Israel-Hamas war: Israel says ‘significant gaps’ in hostage deal, okays UN visit to northern Gaza

2024-01-29 04:24:03

Israel on Sunday (local time) said there were “significant gaps” after talks were held with the US, Qatar and Egypt regarding Israel’s pause in military operations against Hamas in Gaza and securing the release of the remaining hostages.

However, Israel called the negotiations “constructive” and said they would continue in the week ahead, a possible sign of progress that could see the Jewish nation halting its offensive in Gaza in exchange for the release of remaining captives, news agency Associated Press reported.

A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on the ceasefire negotiations did not specify what the “significant gaps” were. There was no other reaction or statement from other parties involved in the talks.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: THE LATEST

  • A previous ceasefire deal brokered between Israel and Hamas by Qatar in November last year saw the release of more than 100 Israeli hostages and the freeing of over 150 Palestinians who were held in Israeli prisons. The deal also led to a pause in fighting. The ceasefire was extended twice before Israel resumed military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

  • Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on Sunday (local time) said he was “disgusted” with how the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s principal judicial organ, “twisted” his remarks while the world court pronounced its ruling in the genocide case against the Jewish nation, Associated Press reported.

    In a press conference on October 12 last year, Herzog spoke about Palestinians in Gaza and said “an entire nation” was responsible for the attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, according to the ICJ.

  • Meanwhile, Japan on Sunday joined a growing list of countries to stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees after several staff members allegedly joined Hamas in its October 7 attacks on Israel. The US, the UK, Germany and Canada are amongst several countries that have halted funding to UNRWA.

    Meanwhile, Israel approved allowing a UN delegation to visit northern Gaza to assess the situation there and map the residents’ needs, The Times of Israel reported, citing Ynet new site.

Published By:

Prateek Chakraborty

Published On:

Jan 29, 2024

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Israel-Hamas war, Israel ceasefire talks, Gaza ceasefire, Gaza war, Israel news, Benjamin Netanyahu, ICJ ruling on Israel

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