US, Egypt, Qatar push for Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement as 20 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes.
The US, joined by Arab mediators, is seeking to conclude an agreement between Israel and Hamas to halt the 14-month-old war in the Gaza Strip. The latest reports indicate that at least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday.
Mediators have made progress in narrowing gaps in most of the agreement’s clauses, but negotiations remain complex due to issues such as Israel’s insistence on retaining a military presence in Gaza and Hamas’ refusal to release hostages until troops pull out.
The US administration has intensified its efforts to advance talks ahead of President Joe Biden’s departure next month. Meanwhile, Israeli negotiators are set to meet with Qatari officials to bridge gaps between the two sides.
The conflict has already resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of the population, and widespread destruction. Reports indicate that Israel’s campaign has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the 2.3 million population in Gaza.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire are ongoing, with talks taking place between US officials and representatives from Egypt and Qatar. The CIA Director is also scheduled to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss bridging remaining gaps.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-mediators-intensify-ceasefire-efforts-israeli-strikes-kill-16-people-2024-12-18