Israel-Hamas War Highlights | Hostage negotiations between Israel, Hamas at 'final stage': Qatar

Israel's government met in the early hours of Wednesday to consider a deal for Palestinian Hamas militants to free some hostages in Gaza in exchange for a multi-day truce and the release of a greater number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. (Source: Reuters)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to travel to Israel early next week for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials about the ongoing war in Gaza. (Source: Reuters)

Australian police arrested 23 pro-Palestinian protesters for blocking roads near one of the country's largest container ports in Sydney, authorities said on Wednesday, after they protested against a ship owned by Israeli carrier Zim.

South African lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations until a ceasefire is agreed in its war with Hamas in Gaza. (Source: Reuters)

Terrorist organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announces the death of a female Israeli hostage. (Source: Reuters)

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Tuesday said that the war against Hamas will not stop after the cease-fire. (Source: AP)

The Israeli military's chief spokesperson on Tuesday said that there is progress on the release of hostages, but he also recommended "waiting" till the exact picture gets clearer.

Hamas and Israel are nearing an agreement that would involve the release of around 50 hostages, mostly women and children. In return, Israel would release 150 Palestinian prisoners, and there would be a temporary pause of four or five days, a US official said on Tuesday, as quoted by Reuters.

While there is a tentative deal, it remains unofficial until all aspects are agreed upon, the official noted. The official stated, "We believe we are very, very close to having a deal. There is still a lot of work to be done, still approval that has to be achieved. But we believe we are very close."

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday his foreign minister and intelligence chief were working in coordination with Qatari authorities on the release of hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"Both my foreign minister and my intelligence chief, they are continuing the process with a joint effort with Qatar," Erdogan told a news conference with his Algerian counterpart in Algiers.

"Our hope is that we reach an outcome on the exchange of the prisoners as soon as possible. We are in constant communication, and our hope is to get positive results from this," he added.

(Reuters input)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday progress was being made on the release of hostages held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

"We are making progress. I don't think it's worth saying too much, not at even this moment, but I hope there will be good news soon," he told reservists according to a statement from his office, Reuters reported.

The UN children's agency has warned that fuel shortages and worsening sanitation in Gaza were shaping up to be "a perfect storm for tragedy" through the spread of disease. UNICEF said it was particularly concerned about an outbreak of cholera, which is usually transmitted through contaminated water or food, causing diarrhoea and vomiting.

(AFP input)

A source, familiar with the hostage talks, told Reuters that the deal between Israel and Hamas is for a multi-day pause in hostilities, the release of around 50 civilian hostages by Hamas, and the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails.

According to Qatar, who is mediating the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas, the negotiations are at its "closest point" since the start of the war. The negotiations are at its "final stage", Qatar added. Earlier, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh had claimed that the Palestinian terror group and Israel are close to reaching an agreement on a "truce" amid the war in the Gaza Strip, according to The Times of Israel.

(AFP inputs)

Flour bags, supplied by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, were distributed to Palestinians in Rafah.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that three hospitals in the besieged Gaza Strip had sought assistance for evacuating patients, with planning currently in progress, according to Reuters.

Christian Lindmeier, the WHO spokesperson, specified the hospitals as Al Shifa (from which a group of babies had already been rescued), Indonesian Hospital, and Al Ahli Hospital. Lindmeier emphasized that such an event was considered a last resort, stating, "It's robbing the entire population of the north of the means to seek health care," during a press briefing in Geneva.

Lebanon state news agency reported on Tuesday that two journalists and one other person were killed at the Israel-Lebanon border, as per Reuters.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it helped in facilitating the safe evacuation of newborns from the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza to receive medical treatment in Egypt.

IDF teams on the ground assisted UN teams in the evacuation using incubators provided by Israel.

Since the war between Israeli forces and Hamas began on October 7, as many as 50 journalists have been killed, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Monday, CNN reported.

This month has been the deadliest month for journalists since the CPJ began tracking deaths in 1992.

US-based NBC News has cut off ties with a Palestinian reporter who worked for the network after she allegedly celebrated Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, The Times of Israel reported.

East Jerusalem resident Marwat Al-Azza was arrested by Israeli authorities and was accused of celebrating the kidnapping of Israelis by Hamas.

Israel has designated Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a terror organisation ahead of the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, emphasising global unity against terrorism.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said three anti-tank guided missiles were fired in northern Israel from Lebanon, The Times of Israel reported.

The missiles targeted the Metula area and no injuries or casualties were reported.

The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas rocket launcher that fired at central Israel on Monday, according to The Times of Israel.

According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the launcher was kept near a residential building. Civilians, including women and children, fled the area after Hamas launched strikes on Israel.

A video released by Yemen's Houthi group shows their gunmen landing on an India-bound cargo ship from a helicopter and threatening crew members in the vessel's cabin.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the number of people killed in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip has been "unparalleled and unprecedented" as compared to any conflict since he took office in 2017, CNN reported.

"What is clear is that we have had in a few weeks thousands of children killed. So this is what matters. We are witnessing a killing of civilians that is unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict since I am Secretary-General," Guterres said in a press conference.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has claimed that the Palestinian terror group and Israel are close to reaching an agreement on a "truce" amid the war in the Gaza Strip, according to The Times of Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with families of more than 200 Israelis who are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu said his government will help in securing their release and stressed it was a "sacred and supreme mission", The Times of Israel reported.

"We will not let up until they are returned and this is the responsibility of me and the war cabinet," he said in a statement.

Air raid sirens were sounded across central Israel after two missiles were fired from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said, The Times of Israel reported.

Both rockets were fired by Hamas and intercepted by Israel's air defence systems, the IDF said.