RENEWED WAR NO CEASEFIRE UNTIL HAMAS RELEASES REMAINING HOSTAGES, SAYS ISRAELI ENVOY

Israel says that in spite of the global anticipation of peace, the agreed ceasefire with Hamas collapsed due to the non-release of the remaining 59 Israeli hostages.

Explaining why the hostilities resumed, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said “the ceasefire agreement was built on the condition that Hamas will release hostages, but after the first stage of the ceasefire, it stopped releasing hostages and still expected the ceasefire to continue.”

Therefore, “it wasn’t sustainable for us to continue,” Freeman said, adding that Hamas was not prepared to talk about basic things in the ceasefire that would enable negotiation for the second stage of the agreement, which is about long-term ceasefire.

He further explained that Hamas wanted to stay in power in Gaza and to keep staying armed. According to him, “there is no possibility of discussing ceasefire and having a long-term conversation if the very starting point of the other side is that they want to kill you.”

Freeman said Hamas also rejected several mediation proposals of releasing hostages, with none released in nearly four weeks. Therefore, “if the ceasefire is not based on anything else than releasing of hostages, we do not cease firing until we get our hostages back,” he stated

By Anthony Nwachukwu