Although fighting between Israel and Hamas continues fierce, the militant group that rules the Gaza Strip claims they are close to a ceasefire agreement. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the group, made this known through a statement to the Reuters news agency. Without elaborating, he said Hamas had sent a response to negotiators from Qatar, and that the deal would close soon. An official of the militant group told Al Jazeera television that the talks had focused on the duration of the ceasefire, allowing aid to enter Gaza and the exchange of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners.
It is understood that both sides will release the women and children and the details will be announced by Qatar. Earlier, the US President, Joe Biden, as well as the spokesman of the Security Council, John Kirby, said that a deal could be reached quickly and would include the release of hostages from Hamas in exchange for pauses in the fighting.
"We believe we are closer than ever to reaching an agreement. Therefore we have hope. But despite the positive signals, the situation in Gaza remains dire, while Israel continues to focus its military operation around hospitals or refugee camps," said John Kirby.
According to the Palestinian news agency, at least 17 Palestinians were killed during the bombing of the Nuseirat camp. Shots continue to be heard in the Indonesian hospital complex surrounded by Israeli tanks.
On Monday, 12 victims and dozens of wounded were reported, while around 700 people remain trapped there amid Israeli fire. 28 premature babies evacuated from Al Shifa hospital in Gaza were evacuated to Egypt for emergency treatment on Wednesday.
UN Secretary General Guterres denounced what he called unprecedented killings of Palestinians, while WHO chief Gebreyesus expressed his dismay at the attacks. (A2 Televizion)
