By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-01-14 09:46:19 | Updated at 2025-01-14 22:41:26
13 hours ago
An Israel-Gaza ceasefire could be imminent as Israel has pledged to leave Gaza once all the hostages have been returned.
Talks between Qatar’s prime minister, Israel’s intelligence chiefs and president-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy have reportedly led to a “breakthrough,” which could prompt a deal to end the war.
The issue of Israeli military control over Gaza has been a bone of contention in previous talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has always insisted on Israel maintaining security control over Gaza indefinitely, however his stance may have changed.
Hamas has not publicly confirmed if the women, children, elderly and ill set to be released are dead or alive
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Hamas has not publicly confirmed if the women, children, elderly and ill set to be released are dead or alive.
As the phases of the ceasefire progress, Israeli soldiers will slowly withdraw from Gaza, although Israel has proposed the establishment of a new buffer zone in the strip to prevent future terror attacks.
Humanitarian aid to Gaza will be increased during the first phase of the ceasefire, while talks of a new government and reconstruction of Gaza will be held in the last phase.
The official said that Israel was waiting for Hamas’s approval to enter the final stage of negotiations.
They said: “Both president Biden and Donald Trump want a ceasefire to happen by the time the new administration takes over. Or at least that there’ll be a framework for a deal in the coming days. We are not there yet, but there is potential for real progress.”
Netanyahu’s office released a statement on Sunday night, saying the PM had updated President Joe Biden on the negotiations, specifically on the “mandate he gave to the negotiating team to Doha in order to advance the release of the hostages”.
The Israeli PM reportedly met with senior members of government to convince them to support a ceasefire.
He told his finance minister Bezalel Smotrich that it would be in their best interest to support the ceasefire, as Donald Trump was pushing hard for it.
One of Hamas’s core demands in the discussions has always been a total withdrawal of troops immediately after a ceasefire
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Another source familiar with the issue said that supporting a ceasefire would make it easier for Israel to get Trump’s support for an annexation of the West Bank.
Israeli hostage co-ordinator Brig-Gen Gal Hirsch is expected to meet with the Red Cross to discuss the details of hostage and prisoner exchange if a framework is agreed on.
British foreign secretary David Lammy arrived in Jerusalem late last weekend where he met with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Sa’ar stressed that Israel was working to achieve a hostage deal, saying: “The only question is whether Hamas will be ready to make a deal, and we will know that soon.”
Lammy and Sa’ar also discussed “regional issues,” including stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
During his visit, Lammy also met with Yair Golan, the leader of the left-wing Democrats party.
