We are close to reaching a truce agreement in Gaza

Middle East

As the war in Gaza continues, Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’s political bureau, said in a statement that the movement is “close to reaching a truce agreement” with Israel.

As reported by Reuters, Haniyeh said: “The movement has given its response to the Qatari brothers and the mediators, and we are close to reaching a truce agreement,” referring to the war that has broken out between the Israeli army and Hamas since last October 7.

Today, Tuesday, a Hamas official expected the Qatari mediator to announce details of a deal with Israel within hours, indicating progress in truce negotiations and prisoner swaps between the two sides. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, added to the Arab World News Agency that the movement had handed over to Qatar its response to the latest version of the proposed deal with Israel.

He underlined that the agreement takes into account the humanitarian aspect and provides for the exchange of prisoners. Yesterday, the Israel Radio and Television Authority said the Israeli government had given the green light to complete a prisoner swap deal with Hamas. However, a Hamas official who asked to remain anonymous later denied the progress to the Arab World News Agency, but in the last few hours there have been developments in the negotiations that could lead to the details of the agreement being announced today or tomorrow.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that his country will not stop fighting in Gaza until it returns people held by Hamas and destroys the movement.

Netanyahu said after meeting with the families of the hostages on Monday that he will “not rest his mind” until detainees held by Hamas in Gaza are returned, stressing that “this is his responsibility and the responsibility of the government of war”. according to the Times of Israel.

War broke out between Israel and Hamas following a sudden and unprecedented attack by the Palestinian movement in southern Israel on October 7, which led to the killing of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, most of whom were died on the first day of the attack, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel had promised to eliminate Hamas and in response to the attack launched a massive campaign of aerial and artillery bombardment, which left more than 13,300 people dead in the Gaza Strip, most of whom were civilians, and among the dead there were more than 13,300 people. more than 5,600 children.