Israel and Hamas working toward new truce, hostage deal

Published December 20,2023

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Hopes rose Wednesday that Israel and Hamas could also be inching towards one other truce and hostage launch deal within the Gaza battle, following secret talks and because the head of the Palestinian resistance motion visited Egypt.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Tuesday advised kinfolk of a number of the remaining 129 captives held in Gaza because the October 7 assaults that his spy chief was engaged on efforts to “free our hostages”.

“I have just sent the head of Mossad to Europe twice to promote a process to free our hostages,” the premier advised them. “I will spare no effort on the subject, and our duty is to bring them all back.”

Mossad director David Barnea held a “positive meeting” in Warsaw this week with CIA chief Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a supply conversant in the talks advised AFP, asking to not be named.

Talks have been ongoing “with the aim of reaching an agreement around the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for a truce and the potential release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons,” mentioned the supply.

The Qatar-based chief of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, on Wednesday travelled to Egypt, historically a key mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, for talks with intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.

A supply near Hamas, additionally talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned the talks would concentrate on stopping the battle and “to prepare an agreement for the release of prisoners (and) the end of the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip”.

President Isaac Herzog additionally mentioned Israel was “ready for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid in order to enable the release of hostages”.

Islamic Jihad launched video footage it claimed confirmed two hostages, ramping up stress on Israel.

The supply near Hamas mentioned the Egypt talks would concentrate on proposals together with a week-long truce that may see the discharge of 40 Israeli hostages, together with girls, youngsters and male non-combatants.

Haniyeh, earlier than leaving Qatar, met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, however no particulars of their assembly have been launched.