International efforts continue to reach a ceasefire agreement to end more than 10 months of war between Israel and Hamas. Officials from the United States, Egypt and Qatar concluded two days of talks in Doha optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement.
Relatives and sympathizers of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have gathered in their weekly protest to demand that Netanyahu’s government reach an agreement that guarantees their release.
Carrying photographs of the hostages in what is now called the Tel Aviv Hostage Squareasked the Israeli Government to finally reach an agreement and bring back the more than 100 captives.
“I hear senior security officials telling us that Hamas is dismantled, it’s time for a dealHamas wants it, Iran and Hezbollah also, in their own silence, want it. If there is no agreement, there will be a bitter war, and in this fierce war you know how to get in, but you don’t know how to get out,” declared Eli Albag, father of one of the hostages.
Progress in ceasefire negotiations
Meanwhile, international efforts continue to reach a ceasefire agreement to end the more than 10 months of war between Israel and Hamas.
officials of The United States, Egypt and Qatar ended two days of talks in Doha with a message of hope that an agreement can be reached.
According to a joint statement from the mediators, a proposal was presented to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas and they hoped to finalize the details of how to apply the possible agreement next week in Cairo where France is already paving the way.
Both parties have shown interest in a phased ceasefire project proposed by the President Joe Biden on May 31.
On Friday, Biden appeared optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement and added: “We are closer than ever.”
The Prime Minister’s Office Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israeli negotiators had expressed “cautious optimism.”
However, the two sides remain divided over some of the terms and details of the agreement, and Hamas said on Saturday that there had been no progress and that heThe mediators were “selling illusions”.
The war was triggered by the raid of Hamas in Israel on October 7in which Gaza militants swept into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping another 250. Israel says Hamas still holding about 110 hostages and the remains of more than 30 people.
The Hamas-led Ministry of Health claims that the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 40,000but does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.
