Breaking: Progress in Gaza Ceasefire Talks Sparks Hope for Peace
Negotiators from pivotal nations, aiming for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages, have reached a "common ground of understanding" during talks in Paris, as announced by Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden's national security adviser, according to AFP.
"It's true that representatives from Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar met in Paris and reached a common ground of understanding on four aspects" of a potential agreement for hostage release and "a temporary ceasefire," stated the White House national security adviser in a CNN interview.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the besieged Gaza Strip, where 2.2 million people, nearly the entire population, are threatened by "mass starvation," warns the UN.
A discussion on a proposal initiated since the end of January
The Israeli War Cabinet gave the green light on Saturday for further negotiations towards a renewed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli press reports cited by News.ro.
Mossad Director David Barnea led an Israeli delegation to the French capital on Friday to advance a ceasefire initiative discussed at the end of January with his American and Egyptian counterparts and the Qatari prime minister.
In pursuit of an agreement, Israel demands - as a precondition - "the unconditional release of all hostages, starting with all female detainees," according to Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi.
"However, such an agreement does not signify the end of the war," cautioned this close associate of the prime minister during an interview on N12 channel.
Conversely, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas demands a "complete cessation of hostilities" and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
According to disclosures from a source within the Islamist movement, the proposal discussed in January envisaged a "temporary suspension" of six weeks and the release of 200-300 Palestinian detainees in exchange for the release of 34-40 hostages.
At the end of November, an initial ceasefire of one week - negotiated under the auspices of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States - facilitated the release of over 100 hostages by Hamas alongside 240 Palestinian detainees held in Israel.
The conflict in the Gaza Strip began on October 7 following an unprecedented assault in southern Israel by Hamas commandos, resulting in casualties totaling 1,160 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to a tally compiled by AFP based on official Israeli data.
Hamas's Ministry of Health reports that 29,692 individuals have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip since the onset of hostilities.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
