An Israeli official told the Wall Street Journal this evening (Wednesday) that Israel would be willing to negotiate the release of men and soldiers kidnapped to the Gaza Strip. However, the source made it clear that Israel will not start negotiations until all the women and children are released from captivity.
According to the report, Israel demands that all the women and children be released in the current deal, in accordance with the agreed terms - that is, that Hamas release at least 10 abductees every day. At this stage, there are 27 women and children held by Hamas, of which 10 are expected to be released today - so an additional two-day extension of the truce will be required to release them all.
The source added and referred to the fact that Hamas violated the terms of the current deal several times, when it tried to separate mothers from children and also refused to release the children who were transferred to other terrorist organizations. "We cannot abandon 27 people to discuss a new agreement that will also be violated," he said. "If the current deal works, we will be willing to discuss the other groups of abductees who are still there."