Hostage Rescue Amid Ceasefire Talks

By Zach Sandquist

June 8th, 2024

Noa Argamani was one of the most prominent faces of hostages taken by Hamas.

On October 7th around 250 Israeli citizens were taken hostage by Hamas. Since then over 116 hostages have either been released by or rescued from Hamas - including hostages released during the 4-day November ceasefire. Today, after a complex and risky mission, four more hostages have been rescued by IDF forces - Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41. Reportedly, dozens of people have been killed and injured in the Nuseirat area, the location of the operation. The four hostages are in good medical condition and are staying at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center, 120 hostages remain imprisoned by Hamas.

This comes nearly 3 weeks after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applied for arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Hamas. Since October 7th the prime minister has been under increasing pressure surrounding the war in Gaza. Israeli citizens are looking to see the return of their friends and families, while the world is watching Israel and how it conducts its war in Gaza. Today’s operation marks the most successful hostage rescue by the IDF during the war. Within Israel, these events may give some reprieve to the prime minister and his war cabinet.

The rescue comes amid efforts to reach a new ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. Last week President Joe Biden unveiled a new Israel-proposed plan to bring an end to the 8-month-long conflict. The plan is broken up into three phases which would start with a six-week ceasefire during which the IDF would withdraw from Gaza. During the second phase, there will be an exchange of all remaining hostages and a permanent cessation of hostilities. The third phase would see the remains of any deceased Israeli hostages returned, in addition to the formation of a US and internationally-backed reconstruction plan in Gaza.

In response to today’s offensive, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh has said they will not agree to a ceasefire unless security for Palestinians has been achieved. The US-unveiled plan includes details from previous ceasefire attempts, the difference being the call for a permanent ceasefire. A permanent ceasefire has continuously been one of Hamas’s key demands, so it appears this new plan has been designed to draw Hamas back to negotiations. Mr Biden has acknowledged that some Israelis would likely oppose the proposal. Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that until the return of all hostages and the elimination of Hamas have been achieved, the war cannot end.

A long road lies ahead. Both the IDF and Hamas seek to eliminate each other, which creates a complex negotiation process for the diplomats.

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