Associated Press reports that US negotiators are moving closer to a possible agreement that would see Israel suspend military operations against Hamas in Gaza for two months in exchange for the release of over 100 hostages taken in the October 7 attack on Israel. Regarding the confidential talks, the officials—who asked to remain anonymous—stated on Saturday that the details of the deal, which has not yet been completed, would be revealed in two stages. First, there would be no more fighting so that Hamas could free the surviving women, the elderly, and the injured hostages.
The next 30 days of the ceasefire would then be used by Israel and Hamas to iron out the specifics of a second phase in which Israeli soldiers and civilian males would be released. An additional humanitarian aid permit for Gaza is demanded by Israel in the forming agreement. Israel and Hamas have not responded to any confirmation of the possible agreement’s contents. Although the proposed agreement would not put an end to the war, US officials hope it would set the stage for a long-term, sustainable settlement.
First revealing on Saturday, The New York Times claimed that negotiations are nearing an agreement for a ceasefire in exchange for the hostages that remain. When Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, meets with Egypt’s intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, and Israel’s head of the Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, on Sunday in France, the CIA director, Bill Burns, is anticipated to discuss the details of the developing agreement. The talks will be focused on the hostage negotiations.
President Joe Biden spoke over the phone on Friday with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the reigning emir of Qatar, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, the president of Egypt. The topic of their conversations was the hostage crisis. In a statement, the White House discussed Biden’s conversation with the leader of Qatar. Both presidents reaffirmed that a hostage agreement is essential to bringing about a protracted humanitarian ceasefire and guaranteeing that more vital humanitarian aid reaches Gaza’s civilian population in need. They emphasized how urgent the issue was and expressed gratitude for their teams’ tight collaboration in advancing the previous conversations.
According to the Palestine Red Crescent, ‘oxygen depletion’ prevent doctors at al-Amal hospital from performing procedures:
The al-Amal hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis is experiencing “oxygen depletion,” which is preventing medical staff from performing surgical procedures, according to a warning from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). For the sixth day in a row, the PRCS denounced on Saturday the siege and targeting of al-Amal Hospital and its branch office in Khan Younis.
“The occupation continues to bombard the vicinity of the hospital and open fire, jeopardizing the safety of medical staff, the wounded, patients, and approximately 7,000 displaced individuals who sought refuge there to escape Israeli bombardment,” the PRCS said in a statement that was posted to X.
