CONVERSATIONS GAIN MOMENTUM

The Lebanon strike came as efforts to end the war in Gaza stalled gain new momentum.

The war began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP report citing official Israeli figures.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 42,847 people, the majority civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.

Previous attempts to stop the war have failed, although the United States has expressed hopes that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week could serve as an opening for a deal.

A senior Hamas official told AFP that a delegation from the group’s Doha-based leadership discussed “ideas and proposals” related to a Gaza ceasefire with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Thursday.

“Hamas has expressed readiness to stop the fighting, but Israel must commit to a ceasefire, withdraw from the Gaza Strip, allow the return of displaced people, agree to a serious prisoner exchange deal and allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.” the official said, echoing the Islamist group’s position.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he welcomed mediator Egypt’s willingness to reach an agreement “for the release of hostages” still held by militants in Gaza.

After the meeting in Cairo, Netanyahu instructed the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency to go to Qatar on Sunday to “bring forward a series of initiatives that are on the agenda,” his office said.

Qatar, Egypt and the US have long tried to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Qatari leaders in Doha on Thursday in his 11th trip to the region since the Gaza war began.