The US and European countries are said to be quietly pressuring Israel to delay sending troops into the Gaza Strip to have more time to rescue the hostages.
The Times of Israel today quoted an anonymous senior diplomat as saying that the US and some European countries are concerned that Israel's large-scale attack on the Gaza Strip will ruin all future efforts to negotiate the release of hostages.
The official said that Western countries whose citizens were missing in the October 7 Hamas raid were putting pressure on Tel Aviv. They did not ask Israel to cancel the attack, but suggested slowing down a beat to wait for the results of diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
The news comes after Hamas released two Americans held hostage by its militants in Gaza. Negotiations with Hamas are continuing, but Western countries admit that the longer it takes, the less likely it is that the hostages will be released.
The Israeli government has not commented on the information. However, Major Dorion Spielman, spokesman for the Israeli military (IDF), said Tel Aviv's efforts to destroy Hamas will "not be interrupted".
Israeli soldiers in a residential area near the border with the Gaza Strip, October 20. Photo: AP
"Hamas wants us to pause the attack, but we are at war with them, there will be no delay in the attack. We will destroy Hamas," spokesman Spielman said.
He added that Hamas's move to release the two American hostages was "an attempt to present itself as a human rights -respecting organization." "They released two hostages, but their brutal nature remains the same, still launching rockets into Israel. Release all the hostages and then we can start negotiations."
Asked whether Hamas's hostage release was intended to undermine US support for Israel, an IDF spokesman said it was "a typical Hamas tactic." "They attack, they kill, and then they turn to the US and international organizations to accuse Israel of human rights violations, so they can have more time to regroup."
Two American hostages are led away by Israeli General Gal Hirsch (center) on October 20. Photo: Reuters
Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing thousands of people. 203 people, including Israeli citizens, foreigners and dual nationals, were captured by Hamas gunmen, most of whom were taken to the Gaza Strip and are still alive.
Israel has vowed to "completely destroy Hamas and its military capabilities" and is preparing a large-scale offensive against the Gaza Strip. Tel Aviv has imposed a blockade on the strip, launched retaliatory raids and carried out a number of local attacks in the area.
The United Nations and world leaders have warned that a large-scale ground offensive against the Gaza Strip could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Duc Trung (According to Times of Israel, Guardian )
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