Gaza hostage, aid planning underway as ceasefire talks continue: U.S. official
Global News
It was unclear what measures were being taken, but the official said a new “implementation cell” was being established in Cairo in advance.
In a sign that mediators believe a Gaza cease-fire deal is imminent, a U.S. official said Friday that Mideast negotiators are working out logistics for the potential release of hostages and distribution of aid as part of any agreement to end the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity in keeping with rules set by the White House, said the proposal currently on the table basically bridges every gap between Israel and Hamas and mediators were making preparations before a final deal is approved.
It was unclear what measures were being taken, but the official said a new “implementation cell” was being established in Cairo in advance. The cell would focus on logistics, including freeing hostages, providing humanitarian aid for Gaza and ensuring that the terms of the pact are met, the official said.
The comments came hours after mediators expressed hope that a deal was within reach. They said two days of talks had wrapped up in Qatar and that they plan to reconvene in Cairo next week to seal an agreement to stop the fighting.
Israel issued a vague statement saying it appreciated the mediators’ efforts, and a statement from Hamas did not sound enthusiastic about the latest proposal to end the devastating 10-month siege in Gaza and free Israeli hostages held in the territory. A cease-fire is seen as the best hope for heading off an even larger regional conflict.
U.S. President Joe Biden seemed optimistic, saying, “We are closer than we’ve ever been” to an agreement. Biden has expressed optimism for a deal before, only for talks to break down.
“We may have something,” Biden told reporters Friday. “But we’re not there yet.”
Both sides agreed in principle to the plan Biden announced on May 31. But Hamas has proposed amendments, and Israel has suggested clarifications, leading each side to accuse the other of trying to tank a deal.
Identified by local media as 50-year-old Taleb A., a psychiatry and psychotherapy specialist, authorities said he has been living in Germany for two decades.
The driver of the car was arrested, said German news agency dpa, citing unidentified government officials in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The attack took place around 9:50 a.m. on the last day of school before Christmas at the Precko Elementary School in Zagreb.
The charges filed against Yaoning “Mike” Sun followed those against a former aide to two New York governors, Linda Sun, in September.
Putin used the tightly choreographed event, which lasted over 4 hours, to reinforce his authority and demonstrate a sweeping command.
The Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at 4.75 per cent with new data showing inflation rising to 2.6 per cent, further above the bank's two per cent target.
A U.K. police force went to court to claim the money, held in seven frozen bank accounts, from the Tates and a woman identified only as J.
The suspect was described as an Uzbek citizen recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services.
A Texas-based company is pulling several of its products off the shelves after the FDA discovered a potentially deadly ingredient in product samples.
Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief of the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed as he left for his office. His assistant also died.
Former Amazon driver Ahmed Eldidi has been charged with four war crimes, including torture, mutilation and murder.