The United States fears that Hamas does not have enough live hostages to secure a deal leading to a ceasefire in Gaza, reports suggest.
Israel has demanded the return of at least 40 captives if there was to be a pause in the fighting.
The Israel Defense Forces say 133 hostages remain in Gaza as the war continues. But new reports claim that most of those captured during the October 7 terrorist attack may already be dead.
International negotiators have been engaged in intense talks to reach an agreement leading to a six-week ceasefire.
US fears Hamas does not have enough live hostages to secure deal leading to ceasefire in Gaza, reports suggest
New reports claim that most of those captured during the October 7 terrorist attack may already be dead.
Rachel Goldberg, center, mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, along with other hostage families in Gaza, speaks to reporters outside the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. They met with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday.
But the latest worrying reports have raised more alarm bells and could derail future negotiations.
The Israel Defense Forces fear there may be twice as many hostages dead as the 34 believed to have died in captivity, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Families now face the prospect of never seeing their loved ones again, as the United States desperately tries to reach a deal and civilian casualties mount in Gaza.
Israel has rejected claims that it has not made the safe return of the hostages a priority as it continues its attacks and counteroffensives.
Hostages who have been freed in the six months since the war began have shared their harrowing experiences.
They include being raped, beaten and subjected to surgeries by those who hold them captive.
Their families have campaigned furiously for their freedom and were at the White House this week presenting a petition to Kamala Harris.
Harris met Tuesday with relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, who said they were not interested in expressions of incremental results.
‘We don’t want any more progress. We want results,” said Rachel Goldberg, mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Like other relatives of the hostages taken in the brazen Oct. 7 attack, Goldberg carried a piece of duct tape with the number 186 indicating the number of days in captivity.
Israel has demanded the return of at least 40 captives if there was to be a pause in the fighting.
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen called on all parties to reach an agreement
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen called on all parties to come to an agreement that “the horror – the horror – that Gaza civilians have experienced, we have been experiencing for the last six months, to come to an end.’
“There is hope for people on both sides of the border only when the hostages return home,” he said.
“We are waiting now in the world for Hamas to say yes… And we will all see shortly if Hamas cares enough about its own people, its own people, not to mention our loved ones, to move towards de-escalation” . to restore light to everyone in Gaza and its surroundings,” he stated.
Goldberg spoke of the eight Americans held in Gaza, as well as people “we don’t hear about,” including eight Muslim Arabs, seven Thai Buddhists and two black African Christians.
Earlier this week at the White House, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attempted to pressure Hamas to accept a deal negotiated in Cairo that would include a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages.
“A party that has been holding innocent people hostage for a long time doesn’t get much attention, unfortunately, in the comments,” he said.