As the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its seventh month, there are ongoing negotiations to secure the release of hostages held by the terrorist organization. Meanwhile, Israeli forces are making preparations for a potential invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a phone call over the weekend, where they discussed important matters. One of the topics they touched upon was the need to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Additionally, they also discussed potential plans for a military operation in Rafah. The White House provided this information, highlighting the ongoing conversations between the two leaders.
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On Sunday, the Royal Jordanian Air Force, in collaboration with U.S. Central Command, carried out a joint operation to provide humanitarian aid to Northern Gaza through an airdrop.
The joint operation involved the provision of food by Jordan and the deployment of four C-130 aircraft from the U.S. Air Force.
The U.S. C-130s delivered over 25,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) in Northern Gaza, offering crucial humanitarian aid. Furthermore, they also provided more than 13,080 meal equivalents of Jordanian food supplies.
So far, the United States has delivered approximately 1,110 tons of humanitarian aid.
During her appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday morning, Hanna Siegel, the niece of American hostage Keith Siegel, expressed her surreal feeling upon watching a recently released video that purportedly showed her uncle. She also discussed the potential for a deal that could secure his release, along with other individuals believed to be held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
“We’ve always maintained our belief that he is alive. We must hold onto that belief, especially since my aunt, his wife, was held captive for 52 days and was released in a deal back in November. She was with him during their captivity. When she was finally freed, she assured us that he was alive. However, seeing and hearing him now for the first time is truly surreal,” Siegel expressed.
Siegel expressed optimism about the possibility of a hostage deal and temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. She believes that an agreement can be reached, citing a previous successful deal that resulted in the release of her aunt and other hostages during a brief pause in the war last year.
According to Siegel, she believes that Hamas is indicating their willingness to negotiate through the recent release of alleged hostage videos.
However, she expressed her concern over whether it aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “political interest to close a deal”. Despite Netanyahu’s stated goal of freeing the captives in Gaza and dismantling Hamas, there is uncertainty surrounding his commitment to this objective.
According to Siegel, the Biden administration ought to consider taking direct action to repatriate American citizens.
Referring to her uncle, she expressed her belief in the strong dedication of the Biden administration to bring him back.
During their Passover celebration, she became emotional as she spoke about how her family deeply missed her uncle. To pay tribute to him, they had a picture of him displayed.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the politics, but let’s not forget that these are real people we’re talking about,” she emphasized. “Keith is not just a political figure, he’s a grandfather, a husband, a brother, and an uncle. He has a life outside of his political career.”
When asked about her family’s concerns regarding a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, which could pose a threat to her uncle’s safety, she expressed that she and her family are deeply worried.
Hamas has confirmed that it will be sending a delegation to Cairo, Egypt, on Monday. The purpose of this delegation is to participate in negotiations regarding the hostage situation and a potential cease-fire deal. This development has been confirmed by ABC News.
On Sunday, a senior Hamas official assured the Agence France-Presse that the proposed deal does not pose any major issues for the organization.
According to the Hamas official, the atmosphere remains positive as long as there are no new obstacles from the Israeli side.
