111 Gaza hostages await the outcome of ceasefire talks…

After 10 months of war, ceasefire talks are on a knife edge in the Middle East, particularly with the heightened possibility of a regional war following the assassination of Hamas’ political leader in Iran. In this interview with BizNews, Israeli diplomat and international lawyer Daniel Taub says there are still 111 hostages in captivity in the Gaza Strip, “but the tragedy is that the price for bringing them home is not a simple one. It's releasing terrorists with blood on their hands”. He describes it as “an excruciating dilemma” but gives the assurance that “we are trying in impossible circumstances and with the clock ticking to try and come up with what is the most responsible answer, responsible solution”. Although Hamas didn't show up at the talks last week, Taub says the awareness that Hamas has been significantly degraded and is not able to get hold of weaponry and ammunition raise the hope that it “is now under pressure to reach a deal simply as its own lifeline”. Taub also speaks about how Israel views the future of Gaza; as well as its relationship with its biggest ally, the United States, and other countries in the Middle East.