No deal reached but between Israel and Hamas, White House says

Israel and Hamas haven’t reached a deal but on a brief ceasefire, a White House spokesperson stated.

“No deal yet but we continue to work hard to get a deal,” the White House’s National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated in an announcement.

The spokesperson added that the US continued to work to get a deal between the 2 sides, in line with Reuters.

On Saturday, the Washington Post reported {that a} deal brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hamas had been reached for a five-day ceasefire in change for 50 or extra hostages.

But a second US official additionally stated no deal had been reached, Reuters reported.

Israeli protection forces (IDF) are at the moment finishing up floor operations in Gaza to destroy Hamas after the militant group’s rampage into Israel on 7 October during which its fighters killed 1,200 individuals and took 240 hostages.

Israel additionally stated it’s making ready to increase its offensive within the strip.

A senior aide to Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Palestinian civilians to relocate away from southern Khan Younis, indicating {that a} floor offensive into the south is imminent.

IDF stated it was preventing militants within the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City and on the outskirts of Jabaliya, the refugee camp which is dwelling to certainly one of two colleges that had been allegedly hit by airstrikes on Saturday.

The Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry says the demise toll within the Gaza Strip has already elevated to 12,300, together with 5,000 kids.

Meanwhile, the households of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and 1000’s of supporters arrived after a five-day march in Jerusalem on Saturday.

The marchers sought to stress Israel’s authorities to do every thing they might to convey hostages again.

So far of the 240 hostages kidnapped from Israel into Gaza, solely 5 have been launched – 4 through worldwide diplomacy involving Qatar and one rescued by Israeli troops.

Some of the marchers have expressed worry that the Israel navy offensive endangers their family members however authorities leaders argue that solely navy stress on Hamas can result in some hostage releases.

A humanitarian evaluation staff that visited Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza reported seeing indicators of shelling and gunfire in what was described as a “death zone” in a “desperate” state of affairs, in line with the World Health Organization (WHO).

People search buildings destroyed throughout airstrikes on November 18, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Heavy preventing rages within the northern Gaza Strip as Israel encircles the world, regardless of more and more urgent requires a ceasefire.

“Signs of shelling and gunfire were evident. The team saw a mass grave at the entrance of the hospital and were told more than 80 people were buried there,” the WHO stated in an announcement.

The staff which included public well being specialists, logistics officers, and safety employees from numerous UN departments may reportedly spend solely an hour contained in the hospital resulting from safety issues.

Their go to, whereas coordinated with the Israeli navy, nonetheless occurred with heavy preventing close to the hospital.

“WHO and partners are urgently developing plans for the immediate evacuation of the remaining patients, staff and their families,” the UN organisation stated.

The hospital was not functioning as a medical facility, in line with the staff, resulting from a shortage of fresh water, gas, drugs, and different necessities.

Palestinians search the rubble of a constructing for survivors follwoing Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis within the southern Gaza Strip on 18 November 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The WHO reiterated its name for a direct ceasefire and sustained humanitarian help.

However, US president Joe Biden stated that “a ceasefire is not peace”.

“As long as Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction, a ceasefire is not peace,” the president wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post on Saturday.

“An outcome that leaves Hamas in control of Gaza would once more perpetuate its hate and deny Palestinian civilians the chance to build something better for themselves,” Mr Biden wrote.

Protesters march by the town in the course of the nationwide protest to demand a ceasefire within the Israel-Hamas conflict on 18 November 2023 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Voices the world over calling for a ceasefire in Gaza proceed to develop because the IDF pushes deeper into Gaza warning individuals to maneuver south and evacuation orders are issued for the al Shifa hospital.

A ceasefire he stated would give Hamas the chance “to rebuild their stockpile of rockets, reposition fighters and restart the killing by attacking innocents again.”

“If Hamas cared at all for Palestinian lives, it would release all the hostages, give up arms, and surrender the leaders and those responsible” for the 7 October assaults, the US president stated.

“My administration has called for respecting international humanitarian law, minimizing the loss of innocent lives and prioritizing the protection of civilians,” Mr Biden stated, including that the purpose shouldn’t be “simply to stop the war for today” however to “end the war forever.”

“There must be no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, no reoccupation, no siege or blockade, and no reduction in territory,” the US president stated.

Source: independent.co.uk