That while Israel keeps hammering Gaza….
Like it did to Hezbollah before that cease-fire….
Israel ‘s military is also in Syria.….
The US and Turkey have also been doing bombing runs in Syria….
Hamas has become the latest party to the Gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations to voice optimism about the prospects of reaching a deal, amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region.
In an official statement on Tuesday, Hamas said reaching an agreement was “possible.” A Hamas source also added that the talks were “positive and optimistic.”
Top US, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials have all touted progress in the negotiations in recent days. While officials caution that a deal is neither sealed nor guaranteed, the upbeat language and recent diplomatic activity point to significant momentum toward reaching a deal.
The CIA director, Bill Burns, is expected to travel to Qatar this week to participate in further talks on a ceasefire in Gaza, a US official and a second source familiar with the plans told CNN, with Burns expected in Doha as early as Wednesday, according to the second source.
An Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN that a deal was still potentially weeks away.
Hamas also cautioned that hurdles remain, suggesting that Israel was “imposing new conditions” in the negotiations.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas affirms that in light of the serious and positive discussions taking place in Doha today, under the auspices of our Qatari and Egyptian brothers, reaching an agreement for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange is possible if the occupation stops imposing new conditions,” the organization said in a statement….
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Renewed optimism over the talks comes even as Israeli forces continue to pound northern Gaza in an offensive Israel says is targeting Hamas’ renewed presence in the area.
On Tuesday, an Israeli strike hit a building near to Kamal Adwan Hospital, an area that has been hit repeatedly in the past week.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike had targeted Hamas militants who were planning to attack Israeli forces. Islam Ahmad, an eyewitness who was inside the hospital at the time told CNN the strike had hit a residential building housing displaced families.
The destruction around Kamal Adwan has restricted the flow of medical supplies to what is one of only three hospitals still operational in northern Gaza.
The hospital has been “bombarded relentlessly” in recent days, according to its director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. Attacks on its generators have left it without electricity, its water tank has been destroyed and staff in its intensive care unit – the last functioning one in the area, according to Safiya – have been shot at.
“Anyone who moves in the hospital risks being injured or killed. As of now, there is no electricity, water, or oxygen at all,” he said Tuesday, adding, “It is clear that the whole world either does not see or does not want to see what is happening.”
Dec 17, 2024 – ISW Press
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) agreed to extend their temporary ceasefire in northeastern Syria “to the end of the week.”
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