According to Newsmax, In the ongoing crisis involving hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, an Israeli government official asserted that Hamas continues to obstruct progress toward their release. David Mencer, spokesperson for the Israeli government, emphasized the obstacles posed by Hamas during a press briefing. "It is Hamas who keeps throwing in conditions that are unreasonable and impossible, and it is Hamas that has delayed the negotiations and the release of our people," Mencer told the Jewish News Syndicate. "Every moment that hostages are being held is a war crime and a humanitarian crime, and Hamas needs to release them now."
The issue has drawn international attention, with ongoing attempts at mediation by Egypt and Qatar, though Mencer did not confirm if an Israeli delegation would travel to these locations to expedite talks. He reaffirmed that securing the hostages' release remains a top priority for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, noting, "The Israeli government and the prime minister have said that the release of hostages-all 101 of them-held for more than 400 days by Hamas in the dungeons of Gaza is their highest priority."
Israeli media recently reported on a proposed deal from Netanyahu, offering "several million dollars" for each hostage's release, alongside the safe exit for the captors and their families. The situation has also prompted response from U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who shared a similar sentiment on CBS's Face the Nation, stating, "Whatever Hamas is saying publicly, what they are communicating to the mediators is, 'No, we will not do a ceasefire and hostage deal at this time.'"
The plight of the hostages was highlighted this week as families gathered in Washington, D.C., meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who discussed the issue with President Biden. Ruby Chen, whose son Itay Chen is among the hostages, voiced frustration at the perceived lack of support, urging Jewish organizations to take a more active role. "The Jewish organizations have not been supportive of the hostage cause... we'd like to see that," Chen stated.
Reflecting on the U.S. election results, Chen expressed cautious optimism about the potential for new diplomatic momentum.
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