Hamas' Hostage Situation Grows More Complex
The ongoing hostage crisis between Israel and Hamas has taken a surprising turn, with Qatar, the mediator between the two parties, revealing that 40 hostages are not in Hamas' custody but are being held by local gangs and residents in Gaza.
The hostage deal, which began last Friday, sees Hamas releasing a dozen Israeli hostages daily in exchange for a ceasefire and the release of Palestinian criminals. However, 180 abductees still remain in the Gaza Strip.
This new development has complicate the situation further, as Hamas must first locate the missing hostages before they can be released. Qatari Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is negotiating with Hamas, made this revelation in an interview with the Financial Times.
Confusion Surrounds Hostage Situation
The hostage situation has been shrouded in confusion since the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. Reports suggest that not only Hamas fighters were involved in the attack, but also members of other terrorist groups and civilians as well.
Initially, it was reported that Hamas only had knowledge of 100 hostages. However, this is seen as highly unlikely given the level of planning required for such an attack.
Qatar's Role in Mediation
Qatar has taken on the role of mediator in the hostage deal, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani negotiating with Hamas. The sheikh has called for a permanent two-state solution to end the conflict, but he is uncertain about the involvement of Hamas in this solution.
According to the sheikh, the conflict is not new, but the Hamas attack and the scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip are. He believes that Hamas cannot be destroyed easily and that they are a part of society in Gaza and the West Bank.
The sheikh also emphasized the importance of maintaining calm and stability in the region, and that communication channels with Hamas should be used to avoid escalating the situation.
Enrichment Data:
The Red Cross has expressed concern over the safety of the 40 hostages mentioned by the Qatari sheikh, as they are believed to be outside Hamas' control. The reports do not indicate that Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani claimed that 40 hostages are being held by anyone other than Hamas. In fact, the reports indicate that 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in the first phase of the agreement, and it is mentioned that 98 hostages remain in Hamas captivity[3][5]. There is no mention of 40 hostages being held by anyone other than Hamas in the provided sources.
