Arr, Hamas be less keen on parleyin' for hostage release, havin' slain a top commander in Beirut. So says Qatar to families, mateys!
2024-01-07
Arrr, arguin' with them scallywags from Hamas be a real bother now, mateys! The slayin' o' their mighty commander Saleh al-Arouri be makin' the hostage hagglin' a proper struggle, says Qatar, arrr!
Qatari officials have informed the families of American and Israeli hostages that negotiations with Hamas have become more challenging following the killing of top Hamas commander Saleh al-Arouri. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani relayed this message to the families, stating that the situation has become more difficult after the incident in which al-Arouri was killed. No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion in which he died.Before al-Arouri's killing, Hamas had expressed their willingness to exchange 40 additional Israeli hostages for 120 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. However, Israel rejected this proposal, as well as a previous deal that would have implemented a months-long ceasefire. Negotiations involving Israel, the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas had been ongoing, but they encountered difficulties after al-Arouri's death on January 2nd.
Israeli officials estimate that there are approximately 133 hostages still held in Gaza, although the U.S. has cautioned that it is difficult to determine how many are still alive. Israeli officials have denied involvement in the strike that killed al-Arouri, but they have acknowledged the precision of the attack.
Al-Arouri was one of the founders of Hamas' military wing and had been overseeing the group's operations in the West Bank. He was a primary target for Israel, along with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and others. While Israel remains open to a hostage deal under the right conditions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the conflict with Hamas in Gaza will persist for several more months.