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Netanyahu: World Must Demand Hostages’ Freedom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem, Sept. 2, 2024. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool via REUTERS
JNS.org — The international community must demand that Hamas free the remaining captives held in Gaza “immediately,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, accusing the terrorist group of frustrating the indirect talks towards a hostages-for-ceasefire-and-terrorists-release agreement.
“Hamas is trying to hide the fact that it continues to oppose a hostage release deal and is thwarting it,” Netanyahu’s office stated. “While Israel accepted the ‘final bridging proposal’ made by the US on Aug. 16, 2024, Hamas rejected it and even murdered six of our hostages in cold blood.”
“The world must demand that Hamas free our hostages immediately,” the prime minister reiterated in the statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in London on Tuesday that the Biden administration is determined to achieve a truce in Gaza “as soon as possible,” stressing that “the quickest way to do so remains bringing the ceasefire agreement over the finish line.”
He added, “We are working with our Egyptian and Qatari counterparts to work together to bridge any remaining gaps, and in the coming time very soon we’ll put that before the parties and we’ll see what they say.”
The optimistic comments come amid pessimism expressed in recent days by American and Israeli mediators about the prospects of a deal.
The US has publicly blamed Hamas for holding up the deal, with White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby saying on Monday that “Hamas is the main obstacle to this right now.”
The Washington Post cited a senior US official as saying last week that while the two sides had agreed to the release of terrorist murderers in exchange for Hamas freeing Israel Defense Forces troops, Hamas last week decided that civilians would also need to be exchanged for these longtime prisoners, an idea the official described as a “poison pill.”
However, Israel’s Channel 12 Newsreported on Tuesday that Cairo and Doha “think the opposite” and accuse Jerusalem of dragging its feet.
Netanyahu on Sept. 5 dismissed reports suggesting that an agreement was close. “In fact, while we agreed in May, in July and in August to a deal, an American proposal, Hamas has consistently said no to every one of them,” he said on Thursday.
One hundred and one hostages — alive and dead — are still held captive, 342 days after the Oct. 7 attacks. Off-and-on talks have continued for months with the United States, Egypt, and Qatar acting as mediators.
The post Netanyahu: World Must Demand Hostages’ Freedom first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Witkoff Reportedly Conveys Principals for Ceasefire Proposal to Hamas
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria
i24 News – United States (US) Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff conveyed a message to Hamas behind the scenes regarding the conditions for negotiations — involving freeing the 48 remaining hostages in exchange for ending the war — Israeli media reported Sunday morning.
Witkoff’s message was relayed to Hamas through Israeli activist Gershon Baskin, who had also helped broker messages in the 2011 Gilad Shalit negotiations, a source told Israeli reporter Barak Ravid. He delivered the message through senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad.
The proposal included several general principles in addition to the release of all the hostages in exchange for ending the war, Ravid reported.
i24NEWS correspondent Guy Azriel reported that Israel is not responding to reports of the document of principles, saying, “This is a matter of correspondence between the Americans and Hamas.” The only message from Jerusalem at this stage remains, “We are adhering to the five conditions that the cabinet voted on to end the war.”
Meanwhile, Hamas released a statement Saturday evening expressing their readiness for a ceasefire agreement, saying, “We renew our commitment and adherence to the agreement we announced together with the Palestinian factions regarding the mediators’ proposal for a ceasefire on August 18.”
The annnouncment included their willingness to agree to a ceasefire under conditions including the withdrawl of Israeli forces and release of the hostages, but did not meet Israel’s conditions for ending the war which include the full disarmament of Hamas, demilitarization of the Strip, and Israeli security control over Gaza.
“We emphasize our openness to any ideas or proposals that would achieve a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the unconditional entry of aid, and genuine prisoner exchanges through serious negotiations mediated by intermediaries,” Hamas added.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Urges Europe to Rethink Nuclear Stance
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
i24 News – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has called on Britain, France, and Germany to change course after their decision to trigger the UN mechanism for reinstating sanctions against Iran.
In an op-ed published Sunday in The Guardian, Araghchi argued that the move has “no legal basis,” claiming the mechanism outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) cannot be applied without considering the United States’ withdrawal from the pact in 2018 under former President Donald Trump.
The minister accused European governments of “blindly following Washington’s strategy” while failing to honor their own commitments, including lifting economic sanctions and restoring normal trade relations with Tehran.
Araghchi also criticized Europe’s silence over Israel’s June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that such passivity would leave them sidelined in regional diplomacy.
He reiterated Iran’s readiness for dialogue but only under conditions that ensure both strict oversight of its nuclear program and the full removal of sanctions.
He cautioned that failure in diplomacy could have “serious regional and international consequences,” stressing that Iran’s military is prepared to defend against any aggression.
Araghchi concluded by urging Europe and the U.S. to “give diplomacy a chance,” warning that the alternative would be a dangerous escalation that risks further destabilizing the Middle East.
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Israeli Military Spokesperson Issues Evacuation Warning for Residents in Gaza City
Smoke and flames rise as an Israeli airstrike hits a house, in Gaza City, September 7, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Khamis Al-Rifi
The Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson on Sunday issued a new evacuation warning for residents in a building in Gaza City and surrounding tents, as Israel called again for Hamas to surrender.
It was the second warning for the same building and tents housing displaced families in little over 24 hours.