“Hamas is an obstacle to peace, it must hand over its weapons.” The leader of the PA, Abu Mazen, says this in an exclusive interview with Corriere della Sera. The historic Palestinian leader – who will be in Rome on 7 November where he will meet Giorgia Meloni, Sergio Mattarella and Pope Leo XIV – announces that, «After the implementation of the first phase of the agreement» on the ceasefire in Gaza, «I will ask Italy to recognize the Palestinian State».
Hamas, for its part, is willing to find and release the 15 bodies of hostages held in the Strip if given more time and heavy equipment. The leader of the Islamist organization, Khalil al-Hayya, said this in an interview with the Al-Qahira Al-Akhbariya channel. «We are ready to recover and hand over all the hostage bodies according to the agreement; we have no desire to keep anyone with us: let them return to their relatives and our martyrs will also return and be buried with dignity”, he states. However, he adds, it is difficult to reach the bodies because some are underground and under buildings, and stresses that this requires time and equipment.