POWERFUL ATTACKS: Image from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza from 7 October. Photo: STRINGER / X80002
The parties in the Gaza war are close to a preliminary agreement on a five-day halt in hostilities. The White House denies that there is any agreement.
Published:
Today 02:40
Updated just now
That’s what the major newspaper Washington Post writes, according to Reuters.
The White House denies that there is any agreement as of now. However, a spokesperson for the White House says that the United States is working hard to bring about an agreement between Hamas and Israel.
To the newspaper, a spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in Washington says that they will not make any comments about the hostage situation.
The Washington Post reports that the agreement will involve a five-day halt in hostilities in exchange for Hamas releasing dozens of hostages taken during the October 7 terrorist attack.
The information must come from sources close to these negotiations, and the newspaper refers to a detailed six-page agreement.
Women and children are to be released, and 50 or more hostages will be released every day.
DEMAND THE HOSTAGES BE RELEASED: Image from a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to get the Israeli government to release the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Photo: ABIR SULTAN / EPA / NTB
At least 237 civilians and soldiers are being held captive by militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after Hamas’ terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October. Five have been released. Hamas claims that 57 hostages and prisoners of war have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israel has confirmed that two hostages have been killed.
– Six page agreement
The newspaper refers to a six-page agreement, which states that all parties to the conflict must cease hostilities for at least five days.
The draft is said to have been put together over weeks of talks in the Qatari capital Doha. The Washington Post writes that representatives of Israel, the United States and Hamas represented by mediators from Qatar have participated and refers to diplomatic sources. However, it must have been unclear until now whether Israel would agree to a pause in the military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier this week, Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, said it was willing to release hostages in negotiations with Israel.
The Israeli television channel Channel 12 reported on Saturday that one of the demands for Israel is that families, parents and children, should be released together.
President Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday rejected several “incorrect reports about agreements to release hostages”. He said there was no agreement yet, writes the Times of Israel. He also now denies, according to the Washington Post’s report, that there is any agreement, writes Reuters.
Large demonstrations in many cities around the world have demanded a ceasefire in recent weeks.
On 28 October, the UN General Assembly, with the support of 120 countries, adopted a non-binding resolution calling for a ceasefire.
Published:
Published: 19.11.23 at 02:40
Updated: 19.11.23 at 05:47
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2023-11-19 01:40:25
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