Politics Israel: Millions of dollars for hostages - struggle for ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is offering a reward of five million dollars (4.7 million euros) for the freedom of each of the approximately 100 remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip.
20.11.2024, 04:13
SDA
During a visit to the embattled coastal region on Tuesday, he promised those involved in a release or liberation and their families free passage abroad. The UN Security Council will also discuss the hostages today (4 p.m. CET): The body is to vote again on a resolution calling for the release of the hostages and an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas.
However, diplomats expressed the expectation that the USA would block the draft resolution with a veto. Meanwhile, hopes for a ceasefire in Lebanon are rising: according to media reports, the US mediator for the Middle East, Amos Hochstein, could travel to Israel today for further talks. On Tuesday, following initial talks in the Lebanese capital Beirut, he expressed optimism and said that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon was "within reach".
In addition to the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel is also at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to Israel, Hezbollah is firing at Israel in support of Hamas, which carried out a massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 deaths. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground offensive.
Netanyahu in the embattled Gaza Strip
During his visit to the embattled Gaza Strip, Netanyahu also warned that anyone who harmed the hostages would pay a "high price", according to a statement from his office. "We will pursue you and we will find you." Under no circumstances would Hamas continue to rule the Gaza Strip in the future. "We are in the process of eliminating their military capabilities in a very impressive way."
An earlier offer to release the hostages by paying a reward had been rejected by the Islamist Hamas as a farce. The hostages would only be released if there was an agreement that provided for an end to the war and the blockade and enabled the reconstruction of the coastal strip.
Around 100 of the 250 people abducted from Israel during the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023 are still being held in the Gaza Strip, although many of them are no longer believed to be alive. Relatives accuse Netanyahu of preventing an agreement on their release in order to keep the war going and himself in power.
US mediator: ceasefire possible in the coming days
In the battle between Israel's military and Hezbollah, on the other hand, there are signs of an easing of tensions. US mediator Hochstein said on Tuesday that there is now an "important opportunity" to achieve a ceasefire between the conflicting parties - hopefully "in the coming days". However, there are still "gaps to close" before an agreement can be reached.
Details of an alleged US proposal have been circulating in the media for weeks. According to Lebanese security circles, Israel and Hezbollah are initially to suspend their attacks for 60 days. The Israeli army is to leave Lebanon and Lebanese army soldiers are to be stationed on the border. After 60 days, Israel and Lebanon are also to conduct negotiations on the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 to bring a complete end to hostilities. Hezbollah is said to see the US draft as a basis for further negotiations.
Israel continues attacks in Lebanon
Despite the mediation attempts, Israel is continuing its attacks in Lebanon. According to reports, Israel's military bombed targets near the Lebanese port city of Tyre. More than six air strikes hit houses and buildings in the village of Hush, around four kilometers from the coastal city, as reported by the newspaper "L'Orient Le Jour".
As night fell, the state news agency NNA reported heavy artillery fire on the Lebanese village of Jamark, around eleven kilometers from the demarcation line in the south of the country. It was the first time since the beginning of the war that Israel had shelled the area with artillery.
According to Lebanese reports, three soldiers were also killed in an Israeli air strike. The attack was carried out on a military facility in the southern town of Sarafand, according to the Lebanese armed forces. The Israeli military said on request that the incident was being investigated.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, the number of casualties since the outbreak of the armed conflict between the Israeli military and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia has risen to 3,544 dead and 15,036 injured. According to the figures, 671 women and 231 minors are among the casualties.
In addition, four soldiers from the UN peacekeeping force Unifil were injured in Lebanon. Blue helmets from the West African country of Ghana suffered injuries when a rocket hit their base, according to the mission. According to Unifil's assessment, the shelling "most likely" came from a non-governmental group. This refers to militias such as Hezbollah.
Around 540,000 people fled from Lebanon to Syria
Since the escalation of the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, around 540,000 people have fled to the neighboring civil war country of Syria, according to UN figures. As reported by the UN emergency aid office OCHA, around two thirds of the refugees coming from Lebanon were Syrians and around one third were Lebanese citizens.
According to government figures, there were around 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon before the latest escalation in the conflict with Israel. Most of them had come to Lebanon since 2011 as a result of the civil war in their home country. Around six million people live in Lebanon.
