Jerusalem, 20 Dec (Xinhua) -- According to a report by the British-based newspaper New Arab, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) rejected Israel's proposal for a new round of agreement on the exchange of detainees. Israel's Channel 12 TV station also reported on the same day that Israel and Hamas are engaged in "important, serious and in-depth negotiations" on the details of the "substitution", but the two sides will not reach an agreement soon.
On December 14, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, people rescue people on the rubble of buildings following Israeli air strikes. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Yasser Cudi)
About 1,200 Israelis people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip in a Hamas raid on Israeli military and civilian targets in Israel on October 7. The Israeli government then declared a state of war and launched a large-scale military operation against the Gaza Strip, which has now killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians and injured more than 50,000.
Manslaughter provokes public resentment
On the 15th of this month, the Israeli army admitted that it had mistakenly killed three Israeli detainees during a military operation in the Gaza Strip, causing dissatisfaction in domestic public opinion. People in many places protested and urged the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a new round of "substitution" agreements as soon as possible, so that those detained by Hamas in the Gaza Strip can return home as soon as possible.
On 2 December, people gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel, to call on the Government of Israel to take measures to release all those detained in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Junqing
However, the incidents of manslaughter have not affected Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, with air and ground attacks continuing, as well as the objectives of the military operations to "destroy Hamas" and "free all detainees". According to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Israeli forces will continue to operate in the Gaza Strip for "several months."
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted the father of one of the detainees as saying that the Israeli army's accidental killing of three compatriots was a "tragic mistake" and that the Israeli army is continuing to fight in the Gaza Strip as if it had "given up" the detainees. "They were killed in explosions, failed rescue operations and artillery fire from our army. ”
"We call on the Government of Israel to be prepared to pay the price and to make the release of detainees a top priority. The father said.
Opinions are not in agreement
There seems to be a disagreement within the Israeli Government on this issue. After the outbreak of the current round of conflict, Israel formed an emergency coalition government, including the leader of the main opposition party, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz. In a recent meeting with the families of the detainees, Gantz said that he would not remain in the wartime cabinet if the government did not prioritize the rescue of the detainees and negotiate a new ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a press conference in Tel Aviv on October 28. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Dana Koper/Gini Images)
Media analysis pointed out that Netanyahu's insistence on pushing forward with military action was largely due to the influence of far-right forces within the ruling coalition. According to the Times of Israel, the leader of the far-right party, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, has threatened to withdraw from the ruling coalition if the government does not move forward with military action "with all its might." This means that Netanyahu's government is heading for its downfall.
It is worth noting that the Hamas raid led to heavy casualties on the Israeli side, which objectively stimulated a change in Israeli public opinion. According to the results of a poll conducted by Channel 12 television, after the outbreak of the current round of clashes, about one-third of Israelis have "turned to the right" in their stance toward Palestine and do not want the Israeli army to cease fire.
The outlook is uncertain
According to the newspaper New Arabist, about 5,000 Palestinians were held in prisons inside Israel before the current round of clashes began. Since the outbreak of the conflict, Israel has detained some 4,500 Palestinians, about 2,000 of whom have been placed in "administrative detention" without charge.
On 30 November, buses carrying released Palestinian detainees arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Nidal Estaye)
Israel and Hamas began a seven-day temporary ceasefire on 24 November. During this period, Israel released 240 Palestinians in custody, while Hamas released more than 100 Israelis and foreign citizens. According to the latest information released by the Israeli government, 128 people are still being held in the Gaza Strip and 20 have been confirmed dead while in custody.
Haaretz quoted people familiar with the matter as saying that it is unlikely that Israel and Hamas will reach a new round of "substitution" agreement in the short term. One source said the two sides "can't even restart negotiations", while another said the talks would be "longer and more complicated" than the last time an agreement was reached.
According to Haaretz, Hamas regards the Chinese detainees as a "strategic asset" and will not give up easily without making "special concessions". Hamas has previously said it will not participate in negotiations on a second round of detainees exchange agreements until there is a full ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.