Israel considers stopping Rafah attack to rescue hostages

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said his country could suspend plans to attack the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah if a deal is reached for Hamas to release Israeli hostages.

In an interview with Channel 12, Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated: “The release of the hostages is our top priority.” He affirmed that if an agreement is reached on this issue, Israel will suspend the previously planned operation against the city of Rafah. On the same day, the armed wing of the Hamas movement released a video recording two male hostages alive.

The advocacy group Hostage and Missing Families Forum identified the two men as Keith Siegel and Omri Miran, both of whom were among those captured by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023. The latest video comes just three days after Hamas released another video showing hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin alive.

Earlier, Hamas said it had received an official response from Israel to its latest ceasefire proposal in talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar. Hamas said it would study Israel's response before giving an answer. On April 25, the United States and 17 other countries called on Hamas to release all hostages as a solution to end the current conflict.

According to the Times of Israel, the Forum for Hostage and Families of the Missing – a body representing the families of the 133 hostages still held in Gaza – said the signs of life in the video were evidence that the Israeli government needed to “do everything to push through a deal”. A separate group representing about 20 hostage families issued a more strident statement, saying the government now had to make a clear choice between returning the hostages and continuing the war against Hamas. The group alleged that the military operation to bring their loved ones home had failed.

Representatives of the families of Israeli hostages call for the hostages to be brought home. Photo: Times of Israel

In a related development, the US State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia from April 29 to 30 to meet with regional partners and discuss efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as well as the release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Secretary Blinken will note the recent increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza and emphasize the importance of ensuring that trend continues, including through a path toward an independent Palestinian state and security guarantees for Israel.

According to health officials in the Gaza Strip, the conflict between Hamas and Israel that broke out on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured thousands.

HUY QUOC

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