A senior Israeli negotiator told AFP Monday that tens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are certainly alive and that Israel cannot accept halting the war until all captives are released in a deal. Hamas seized 251 hostages on October 7, of whom Israel believes 116 remain in Gaza, including 41 who the army says are dead. "Tens are alive with certainty," the official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the issue.
"We cannot leave them there a long time, they will die," he said, adding that a vast majority of them were being held by Hamas militants. US President Joe Biden last month unveiled a three-phase proposal to end the war in Gaza, which includes a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Biden said the first phase includes a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from "all populated areas of Gaza".
The official said Israel could not end the conflict with Hamas before a hostage deal because the militants could "breach their commitment...
and drag out the negotiations for 10 years" or more. "We cannot, at this point in time -- before signing the agreement -- commit to ending the war," the official said. "Because during the first phase, there's a clause that we hold negotiations about the second phase.
The second phase is the release of the men and male soldier hostages." The official said the Israeli negotiating team had greenlit the Biden plan. "We expect, and are waiting for, Ha.
