Wednesday 18, Dec,2024 {HMC} Israel, Hamas and international stakeholders are engaged in what are seen as the most serious talks in months over a potential ceasefire deal in the besieged Gaza Strip, where dozens of Palestinians continue to be killed by Israeli attacks daily.
Hamas said in an official statement on Tuesday that in light of “positive” talks held in Doha with mediation from Qatar and Egypt, reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement “is possible if the occupation stops imposing new conditions”.
Sources quoted in Israeli media have also been expressing increasing optimism in recent days that the strongest diplomatic push for a ceasefire deal since August could yield results.
“This optimism is cautious because we’ve been here before and the efforts were scuttled at the last minute because of new conditions and different considerations,” said Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh.
“Right now, as we understand, the discussions are down to the details, to the names of who will be released from Gaza and also who is being released from the Palestinian side. The outgoing and incoming United States administrations have a vested interest in the deal, even if it doesn’t lead to the end of the war.”
In the US, Israel’s top military and political backer, President Joe Biden promised this week he will continue to work to get the remaining captives out of the territory, while President-elect Donald Trump has said there will be “all hell to pay” if they are not released by the time he takes office in January.
US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Bill Burns is expected in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments and will meet Sheikh Mohammed Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to US-based outlet Axios.
Source Al-Jaziira
