18 countries, including the United States and Bulgaria, today called on the Palestinian movement “Hamas” to release sick, elderly and injured Israeli hostages as a way to end the crisis in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported.
“We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for more than 200 days,” the countries said in a joint statement, which a senior US official called an unusual show of unity.
According to Reuters, all 18 countries have citizens abducted by Hamas, six months after the Palestinian movement carried out an Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people.
Among the signatories of the appeal are the leaders of Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Canada, Colombia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, USA, Serbia, Thailand, Hungary and France.
“We emphasize that the proposed agreement for the release of the hostages can lead to an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, which will help the flow of additional needed humanitarian aid into it and lead to a credible end to the hostilities,” the statement said, as quoted by BTA.
A senior US official who briefed reporters on the document said there were some indications that a deal on the hostage crisis was possible, but added that it was not certain. He did not elaborate, but said the decision rested with “one man” – Hamas (military) leader Yahya Sinwar.
