The United States, along with Arab mediators, on Wednesday called for the conclusion of a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the 14-month war in the Gaza Strip. Reuters sources close to Cairo said a deal could be signed in the coming days for a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The US administration, along with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, has made intensive efforts in recent days to advance talks before President Joe Biden leaves office next month.
On Wednesday, a Palestinian official close to the negotiations, Reuters points out, said mediators had narrowed loopholes in most of the agreement's clauses, but he said Israel had presented conditions that Hamas rejected.
CIA Director William Burns was to travel to Doha on Wednesday for talks with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to bridge remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas, other sources with knowledge said. The CIA declined to comment.
The ceasefire announcement comes as the Israeli army killed 16 Palestinians on Tuesday night. Doctors said an Israeli airstrike killed at least 10 people in a house in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, where army forces have been operating since October, while six were killed in separate airstrikes in Gaza City, Nuseirat camp in the areas central and Rafah near the border with Egypt. For its part, the Israeli army had no comment.
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