Following the tragic incident where Israeli forces mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza, the head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad reportedly met with Qatar’s prime minister in Oslo to discuss the release of the remaining hostages. Media reports suggest that this meeting could signal hope for another temporary cease-fire, enabling the exchange of Hamas-held hostages for Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners.
The three Israeli hostages were shot by Israeli forces on Friday night after emerging shirtless from a building in northern Gaza, holding a stick with a white cloth. Israeli military officials admitted that the decision to open fire violated the military’s rules of engagement, as stated by Herzi Halevi, a senior Israeli military officer.
In response to the incident, Israeli and Qatari officials met in Norway on Saturday to revive talks about the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a cease-fire and the liberation of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Observers speculate that this could lead to another exchange of hostages and prisoners, potentially facilitating humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and even transforming into a sustained cease-fire.
Apart from the hostage issue, the US is exerting pressure on Israel. US President Joe Biden criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging a change in tactics. Biden warned that Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza could isolate the country and stated that Israel was “starting to lose support” worldwide.
The deaths of the hostages have increased pressure on Netanyahu’s government to take new steps to free the remaining 129 hostages. Israel’s war cabinet was set to meet to discuss the resumption of hostage talks with mediators. Protests in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday night called for renewed efforts to secure the hostages’ release and for Netanyahu to step down.
However, some experts suggest that the hostage issue might not overshadow Israel’s claimed mission of eliminating Hamas in Gaza. There is an emphasis on taking control of the region and rebuilding it based on Israel’s preferences. Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies of Northwest University, emphasized that while media reports suggest pressure on Netanyahu, the hostage issue might not be the top priority for most Israelis, who are more concerned about ending the conflict decisively.