On Sunday, a truce meeting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip ended without concrete progress after seven months of war. The senior Hamas official who attended the meeting told AFP that the delegation left for Qatar after disagreements intensified over the terms of an agreement, which included a truce and the release of hostages. However, a group will return to Egypt on Tuesday to conclude indirect negotiations with Israel, as reported by Al Qahera News citing a well-informed source.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that accepting Hamas’ demands to end the war in Gaza would be a terrible defeat for the State of Israel and equivalent to capitulation. In response, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh accused Netanyahu of sabotaging the efforts of mediators to obtain a truce in the devastated Palestinian territory. The war broke out on October 7 after a raid by Islamist commandos in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of around 250 according to Israeli data.
Israeli authorities estimate that 128 people remain captive in Gaza, with 35 having died so far following an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners in November. The offensive launched by Israel in response to the attack has resulted in 34,683 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians according to Ministry of Health data. The Israeli leader announced the closure of Qatari news network Al Jazeera due to its coverage of the war in Gaza stating it is criminal while calling on all available legal avenues to reverse it.
The latest truce proposal presented by international mediators provides for a 40-day cessation of fighting and an exchange
