Israel and Hamas are finalizing a new deal to release dozens of hostages in exchange for a five-day pause in the bombing of Gaza. The news emerged after The Washington Post took it for granted and the White House had to come forward to ask for caution and point out that they are working hard on the issue, but that no agreement has yet been reached, according to words of the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, Adrienne Watson
The negotiations, in which Qatar is directly mediating, but also the United States, point to a release of children and women kidnapped by the Islamist group and the first sustained pause in the Israeli offensive in the enclave since the start of the war.
In addition, it would facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing, on the border between the Strip and Gaza.
According to The Washington Post, there is already a six-page document that reflects these negotiations and that provides for aerial surveillance to monitor compliance.
The war was unleashed on October 7, when militants from the armed wing of Hamas infiltrated Israeli territory, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 240.
Since then, the Israeli Army has attacked the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Islamists of Hamas, by land, sea and air, leaving more than 11,300 dead and thousands internally displaced.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, said this Saturday in a column in the same Washington Post that his "heart aches" for the loss of lives of Palestinian civilians, but he again opposed a ceasefire because he believes it would be taken advantage of by Hamas to "rebuild its rocket arsenal" and prepare new attacks on Israel. Hours later, Adrienne Watson had to come forward, clarifying: "There is still no agreement, but we continue to work hard to achieve it."
