Israel may announce three-day humanitarian pause in Gaza to free hostages - FT

Tripartite negotiations are underway in Qatar, the subject of which is the announcement of a three-day humanitarian pause in Gaza in exchange for the release of 20 hostages taken by Hamas. about this The Financial Times writes , citing a source familiar with the progress of the negotiations.

According to the publication, the negotiations involve the head of the CIA Bill Burns, the head of the Israeli Mossad David Barnea and representatives of the Qatari authorities. It is expected that the three-day pause will allow additional humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza, and during this time Hamas will compile and transmit a list of the names of the 240 hostages it has captured.

“Talks have been progressing well towards a deal over the last few days,” the FT source said.

Previously, Hamas representatives demanded a five-day pause and supplies of food and fuel to Gaza in exchange for the release of an unspecified number of hostages. In turn, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed the announcement of pauses lasting several hours for the safe exit of hostages from Gaza.

Simultaneously with the negotiations, the Israeli army (IDF) continues to actively develop its offensive in the Gaza Strip, taking control of the northern part of the enclave.

According to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, Hamas is no longer in control of what is happening in northern Gaza. “The Hamas leadership is hiding in bunkers without communication with the outside world and its own fighters,” he said.

The IDF's operation in Gaza, Operation Iron Swords, was Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed about 1,400 Israelis and took hundreds more hostage. After this, Israeli troops first completely blocked Gaza, leaving it without supplies of water, food, fuel and electricity, and then entered the enclave, declaring that the goal of the operation was the complete destruction of Hamas.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, in turn, reports that more than 10 thousand Palestinians have already become victims of Israeli strikes.

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