Israel and Hamas Narrow Gaps Over Gaza Ceasefire Deal
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RDA Gulf Correspondent
- . December 23, 2024
- . Update: December 23, 2024 9:37 pm
Israeli and Palestinian officials said on Monday that negotiations toward a possible truce in the Gaza Strip are going in the right direction although some issues of difference remain. The latest push by mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the United States to bring a resolution and the release of hostages has intensified this month although a final agreement remains elusive.
A Palestinian official involved in the discussions said several sticking points had been resolved. However, the identities of Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel in exchange for hostages and the exact positioning of Israeli troops in Gaza still need agreement. Israeli diaspora minister Amichai Chikli confirmed these issues remain under negotiation but noted the sides are closer to a deal than they have been in months.
“This ceasefire could last six months or ten years depending on the situation on the ground,” Chikli told Israel’s Kan radio. He added that much depends on who will manage and rebuild Gaza after the fighting stops. The duration of the ceasefire has been a key issue with Hamas seeking an end to the war and Israel aiming to remove Hamas from power in Gaza first.
Israeli minister Zeev Elkin said that talks seek to establish parameters to deal with these discrepancies in a second phase of the truce agreement. Chikli said the initial phase would be humanitarian and last 42 days and would include the release of hostages.
The war began after the October 7th attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in southern Israel, according to Israeli figures. Since then, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed over 45,200 Palestinians and displaced most of the 2.3 million residents while leveling much of the area.
The Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza under heavy bombardment appealed for urgent help. Director Hussam Abu Safiya said the hospital faces daily threats from continued strikes. The Israeli military has provided some aid but denies allegations of trying to permanently displace residents from northern Gaza. The United Nations emphasized the severe humanitarian conditions by warning of famine in the north and overcrowding in the south as winter approaches.