More than 100 hostages released during November 2023 truce between Israel and Hamas
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Israel on Wednesday that more work was needed on the hostage deal but expressed hope for success as he also asked for more aid to war-torn Gaza.
Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day after talks in Qatar, which reportedly brokered a phased deal under which Israel would suspend military operations in exchange for the release of Gaza hostages and Israel Palestinian prisoners.
“We are watching this very closely and, I understand, so is the Israeli government,” Blinken said later in a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, but we are very focused on this work and hope to be able to resume the interrupted hostage releases,” he added.
On October 7, Hamas operatives launched an unprecedented attack inside Israel, killing about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, and taking 250 hostages, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli data.
More than 100 hostages were released during a week-long truce in November, and Israel said 132 hostages, including 29 bodies, remained in Gaza.
Blinken also renewed his call for aid to Gaza, where Israeli retaliation has killed more than 27,700 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled territory’s health ministry, and raised United Nations fears of famine.
“So many innocent men, women and children have suffered as a result of Hamas’ attacks and are now caught in the crossfire of Hamas’ creation,” Blinken said.
“We all have an obligation to do everything possible to provide necessary assistance to those who are in desperate need, and the steps that are being taken – the additional steps that need to be taken – are the focus of my own meeting here.”
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