Hamas says talks with Israel contingent on release of prisoners as agreed
Talks with Israel through mediators on further steps in a ceasefire agreement are conditional on Palestinian prisoners being released as agreed, Hamas official Basem Naim said on Sunday. Israel's delay in releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free is seen as a major obstacle to progress. The stalemate has raised concerns about the prospects for a lasting peace and the fate of remaining hostages.
- This standoff highlights the complex web of interests and demands at play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where prisoner releases are often used as leverage to negotiate other concessions.
- What role will the international community, particularly the United States, play in facilitating negotiations and finding creative solutions to break this impasse?