Hamas “close” to truce deal with Israel
Hamas’ chief said that the militant group was close to reaching a truce with Israel, reports Reuters.
Ismail Haniyeh made the announcement even though rockets are still being fired into Israel and the country is continuously pummeling Gaza, which has killed over 13,000 inhabitants many of whom were youths.
Israel’s far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously threatened the group saying, “every member of Hamas is a dead man”.
Talks have been had regarding a humanitarian pause which would allow much-needed aid into Gaza as well as the release of captives abducted by Hamas.
READ: Arab FMs call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
In an interview with Al Jazeera on November 21, Hamas official Izzat El Reshiq stated, “The expected (truce) agreement will include the release of Israeli women and children hostages in exchange for release of Palestinian children and women in the occupation’s prisons,” .
El Reshiq added that further details of the peace deal would be announced by Qatari officials.
During the Palestinian militants’ unprecedented assault on Israel, around 250 hostages were taken of which 50 are still held by the group. There were over 5,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons before October 7.
US President Joe Biden, who did not call for a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian enclave, hailed the truce agreement as a step in the right direction saying, “We’re closer now than we’ve been before,”.
Reuters/ Al Jazeera
