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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to play down reports from local and international media, including Axios Wednesday, that a “breakthrough” had been reached in negotiations between Israel and Hamas on an agreement on a ceasefire and the return of hostages.
Netanyahu’s office said that, contrary to some reports citing Israeli and Palestinian sources, Hamas had not officially responded to the deal on the table after days of talks in Doha, Qatar. The Times of Israel also reported that an agreement is expected to be signed on Wednesday evening, and a joint statement could be released shortly afterwards.
Speculation has been mounting since Egyptian, American and Qatari negotiators announced on Tuesday that approval for a final draft was near. Outgoing US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said earlier on Wednesday that a ceasefire could happen “at any time”.
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Since Hamas led the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw the Palestinian militant group take some 251 people hostage, more than 46,000 people in Gaza are estimated to have been killed in the fighting and millions of people died. displaced.
The ceasefire being negotiated in Doha would reportedly see an initial six-week pause in fighting as well as the return of the remaining hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, Reuters reported , although the precise details are uncertain. . A roadmap for a post-war Gaza is expected to be released later.
