BERLIN – Dozens of Israeli citizens in Germany held a demonstration demanding that the war in Gaza be stopped immediately on Friday (29/12/2023). They called for an immediate ceasefire in the area.
Reported by Anadolu Agency, about 60 Israelis voiced their aspirations in front of the German Foreign Ministry building. They displayed several banners with the inscriptions “Peace is possible”, “Israel opposes ethnic cleansing”, “Stop the massacre in Gaza”, “Human rights for all”, and “Only peace can bring security, not a military solution”.
Furthermore, the masses also demanded that Hamas immediately release all individuals they are holding hostage in Gaza. Last Friday, a high-level Hamas delegation was reported to have arrived in Cairo. They were intending to participate in ceasefire negotiations with Israel mediated by Egypt.
Reported by Al Arabiya, an unnamed Hamas official revealed that in the meeting in Cairo, the Hamas delegation will provide a response from various Palestinian factions, including some observations on the Egyptian proposal. The proposal involves the formation of a Palestinian technocratic government, following discussions with all Palestinian factions, responsible for governing and rebuilding Gaza after the war.
“(Hamas is also) seeking full Israeli military withdrawal (from Gaza),” the Hamas official said.
Regarding the proposal submitted to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group, the head of the Egyptian State Information Service, Dia Rashwan, disclosed that the plan is intended to unite the views of all parties involved.
“With the aim of ending the shedding of Palestinian blood,” he said.
Earlier, Rashwan stated that Egypt was awaiting responses to the proposal from the parties involved. He said Cairo would provide details on the plan after receiving those responses.
Regarding the negotiations in Cairo, on Thursday (28/12/2023), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government is in contact to free Israelis still held by Hamas.
“We are still in contact up to now. The situation cannot be explained in detail, and we are trying to restore everything,” Netanyahu said in a meeting with the families of the hostages, as quoted by the Middle East Monitor website.
Netanyahu did not elaborate further on the nature of the contact. However, negotiations between Israel and Hamas are usually mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States (US). Last Thursday, the families of those still being held by Hamas staged a demonstration, urging Netanyahu’s government to release them.
According to Israeli statistics, Hamas kidnapped about 239 individuals during an infiltration operation into Israel on October 7, 2023. From November 24 to December 1, 2023, Israel and Hamas had implemented a humanitarian ceasefire.
During that period, both sides exchanged prisoners and hostages. Hamas released 105 hostages, consisting of 80 Israeli citizens and the rest are foreign nationals. In return for the release of the hostages, Israel released 210 Palestinian prisoners.
On December 9, 2023, Israel stated that Hamas still holds 137 hostages in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas refused to be involved in negotiations for the release of hostages with Israel until the aggression in Gaza is completely stopped. Hamas also demanded that Israel adhere to its proposed conditions.
Source: Republika (https://internasional.republika.co.id/berita/s6hivx502/warga-israel-di-jerman-demo-tuntut-perang-di-gaza-dihentikan)
