DIRECT ENGAGEMENT
The discussions between US hostage envoy Boehler and Hamas broke with a decades-old policy by Washington against negotiating with groups that the US brands as terrorist organisations.
The Islamist militant group carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, triggering a devastating war in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Nono praised what he described as an “important role” played by Witkoff in reaching the January 19 ceasefire agreement that halted the fighting in Gaza.
“We hope that he (Witkoff) will work to succeed in the negotiation of the second phase,” Nono said.
Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive.
Underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire, Gaza medics said one Palestinian was killed and two others were wounded on Sunday by Israeli fire in Shejaia in eastern Gaza City. The Israeli military said its air force struck several “terrorists” who operated near their forces and attempted to plant a bomb.
Seven others have been killed in the enclave since Thursday, according to Palestinian health officials.
The Israeli military said that in the past three days forces had struck suspects trying to plant a bomb, and that its aircraft had hit a drone that crossed from Israel into southern Gaza and “several suspects” who had tried to collect it.
