By Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams Reuters
The chief of Hamas instructed Reuters on Tuesday that the Palestinian militant group was close to a truce settlement with Israel, even because the lethal assault on Gaza continued and rockets have been being fired into Israel.
Hamas officers are “near reaching a truce settlement” with Israel and the group has delivered its response to Qatari mediators, Ismail Haniyeh mentioned in a press release despatched to Reuters by his aide.
The assertion gave no extra particulars, however a Hamas official instructed Al Jazeera TV that negotiations have been centred on how lengthy the truce would final, preparations for supply of help into Gaza and the trade of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Each side would free ladies and youngsters and particulars will probably be introduced by Qatar, which is mediating within the negotiations, mentioned the official, Issat el Reshiq.
Hamas took about 240 hostages throughout its Oct. 7 rampage into Israel that killed 1,200 folks.
Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross (ICRC), met Haniyeh in Qatar on Monday to “advance humanitarian points” associated to the battle, the Geneva-based ICRC mentioned in a press release. She additionally met individually with Qatari authorities.
The ICRC mentioned it was not a part of negotiations geared toward releasing the hostages, however as a impartial middleman it was prepared “to facilitate any future launch that the events conform to.”
Speak of an imminent hostage deal has swirled for days. Reuters reported final week that Qatari mediators have been searching for a deal for Hamas and Israel to trade 50 hostages in return for a three-day ceasefire that will enhance emergency help shipments to Gaza civilians, citing an official briefed on the talks.
Israeli Ambassador to america Michael Herzog mentioned on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that he hoped for an settlement “within the coming days” whereas Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani mentioned that the remaining sticking factors have been “very minor.”
U.S. President Joe Biden and different U.S. officers mentioned on Monday a deal was close to, however an settlement has appeared shut earlier than.
“Delicate negotiations like this could collapse on the final minute,” White Home deputy nationwide safety adviser Jon Finer instructed NBC’s “Meet the Press” program on Sunday. “Nothing is agreed till the whole lot is agreed.”
Hamas’ raid on Oct. 7, the deadliest day in Israel’s 75-year-old historical past, prompted Israel to invade the Palestinian territory to focus on Hamas.
Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run authorities mentioned no less than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, together with no less than 5,600 kids and three,550 ladies, by unrelenting Israeli bombardment.
Hamas mentioned on its Telegram account on Monday that it had launched a barrage of missiles in the direction of Tel Aviv. Witnesses additionally reported rockets being fired at central Israel.
HOSPITALS AT RISK
The Palestinian information company WAFA mentioned on Tuesday no less than 17 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombing of the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza at midnight.
There was no speedy remark from Israel.
Gaza’s well being ministry mentioned on Monday that no less than 12 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded by firing into the Indonesian Hospital advanced, which was encircled by Israeli tanks.
Well being officers mentioned 700 sufferers together with workers have been beneath Israeli fireplace.
WAFA mentioned the ability within the northeast Gaza city of Beit Lahia, funded by Indonesian organisations, had been hit by artillery rounds. Hospital workers denied there have been any armed militants on the premises.
World Well being Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned he was “appalled” by the assault that he too mentioned had killed 12 folks, together with sufferers, citing unspecified experiences.
The Israeli Defence Forces mentioned troops had fired again at fighters within the hospital whereas taking “quite a few measures to minimise hurt” to non-combatants.
Like all different well being services within the northern half of Gaza, the Indonesian Hospital has largely ceased operations however continues to be sheltering sufferers, workers and displaced residents.
Twenty-eight prematurely born infants evacuated from Gaza’s greatest hospital, Al Shifa, have been taken into Egypt for pressing remedy on Monday.
Israeli forces seized Shifa final week to seek for a tunnel community they mentioned was constructed by Hamas beneath the hospital. Tons of of sufferers, medical workers and displaced folks left Shifa on the weekend, with docs saying they have been ejected by troops and Israel saying the departures have been voluntary.
