New Delhi, January 28, 2025: Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to the Gaza peace deal until all hostages are returned, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy, Fares Saeb, affirmed.
“We will uphold the agreement until we see all our hostages safely returned—the living ones reunited with their families and the deceased given a proper burial with dignity,” Saeb told PTI on Monday during an event in New Delhi. The diplomat expressed optimism for a smooth conclusion to the first phase of negotiations.
He acknowledged challenges faced during the process. “After the first phase, Hamas attempted to breach the agreement by withholding the release of the last female civilian hostage. Despite viewing this as a violation, we decided not to abandon the deal, prioritizing the safe return of all our hostages. As a result, we proceeded with the second phase but paused the movement of Gazans to the north until Hamas complies with the terms,” Saeb explained.
The diplomat emphasized that in the coming days, Israel anticipates the release of two female hostages—one civilian and one soldier—along with five male civilians.
Earlier on Monday, Qatar announced that Hamas plans to release civilian hostage Arbel Yehoud and two others by Friday. In response, Israeli authorities agreed to resume allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza starting Monday. Approximately 90 hostages are still believed to be held captive.
Speaking at an event marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh praised the progress in Middle East negotiations.
“I am pleased to see substantial progress toward resolving this conflict. The ongoing release of hostages and the peace negotiations offer hope for a lasting resolution,” the minister stated.
The conflict stems from the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and led to approximately 200 hostages being taken.
“We cannot remain silent spectators when such acts of terrorism occur. History shows that silence and inaction enable hate and violence to thrive,” Singh emphasized.
He also highlighted India’s concern over the rising instances of racial and religious intolerance, xenophobia, and related challenges to global principles like peace, justice, and territorial integrity.
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