The international community continues its efforts to reach a ceasefire to end more than ten months of war. Representatives from the United States, Egypt and Qatar have wrapped up two days of talks in Doha, optimistic that an agreement can be reached.
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza gathered for their weekly protest to demand that the government reach an agreement as soon as possible to secure their release.
Carrying photos of the hostages in what is now called Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, they called on the Israeli government to finally reach an agreement and bring back the 100 or so captives.
“I hear the senior security officials telling us that Hamas is dismantled, that it is time to make a deal, that Hamas wants it and that Iran and Hezbollah, in their own silence, want it too. If there is no deal, war will rage and in this raging war, we know how to get in, but we don’t know how to get out,” said Eli Albag, the father of one of the hostages.
Meanwhile, international efforts continue to try to secure a ceasefire agreement to end more than ten months of war between Israel and Hamas.
Representatives from the United States, Egypt and Qatar concluded two days of negotiations in Doha on expressing hope that an agreement can be reached.
A joint statement from the mediators said a proposal aimed at bridging the gap between Israel and Hamas had been presented and that they planned to work on the details of implementing the possible agreement next week in Cairo.
Both sides have expressed interest in a phased ceasefire proposed by President Joe Biden on May 31.
Friday, Mr. Biden said he was optimistic on reaching an agreement, adding that “we are closer than we have ever been.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said theIsraeli negotiators had expressed “cautious optimism.”
However, The two sides remain divided on some terms and details of the deal and Hamas said Saturday that no progress had been made and that the mediators were “selling illusions.”
The war was triggered by Hamas’ incursion into Israel on October 7, in which Gaza militants stormed southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others.
Israel claims that Hamas still holds around 110 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry says theGaza death toll passes 40,000but he does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in his count.