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The United States is currently involved in efforts to reach a potential agreement between Israel and Hamas, with the goal of freeing numerous hostages in Gaza in return for a five-day ceasefire.
According to sources familiar with the six-page agreement, the Washington Post reported that the release of hostages may commence in the coming days, unless any unforeseen obstacles arise.
According to the agreement, all involved parties will halt fighting for a minimum of five days as groups of 50 or more hostages are released every 24 hours, as reported by the Post.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, expressed on Sunday his increasing optimism regarding a potential agreement between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of hostages.
Sheikh Mohammed stated that the agreement is mainly facing practical and logistical obstacles. He also mentioned that the remaining challenges are relatively insignificant.
Nonetheless, neither Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu nor the White House have confirmed the existence of a formal agreement at this point.
The White House’s National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that although a deal has not been reached yet, they are still putting in effort to make it happen.
At a press conference held on Saturday evening, Mr Netanyahu stated that there are numerous unverified rumors and inaccurate reports regarding the hostages. He clarified that there is currently no agreement, but assured that once there is information to share, it will be communicated to the public.
The IDF is currently conducting ground operations in Gaza with the goal of eliminating Hamas, following the militant group’s attack on Israel on October 7th. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of 240 hostages.
Additionally, Israel has announced plans to escalate its attack in the Gaza Strip.
An advisor to Mr Netanyahu advised Palestinian citizens to move away from southern Khan Younis, implying that a military operation may soon occur in the area.
The IDF reported engaging with militants in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood and on the outskirts of Jabaliya, a refugee camp where one of two schools allegedly hit by airstrikes on Saturday is located.
The Gazan Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, reports that the number of fatalities in the Gaza Strip has risen to 12,300, with 5,000 of those being children.
On Saturday, after a five-day march, the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and numerous supporters arrived in Jerusalem.
The demonstrators aimed to compel the Israeli government to take all necessary actions to secure the release of the hostages.
Several participants in the march have expressed concerns that the Israel military’s actions put their loved ones at risk. However, government officials maintain that putting pressure on Hamas through military means is necessary in order to secure the release of hostages.
Out of the 240 hostages taken from Israel and brought to Gaza, only five have been freed. Four were released through international diplomatic efforts involving Qatar, while one was rescued by Israeli soldiers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that a team evaluating the situation in Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza observed evidence of bombing and gunfire in an area referred to as a “death zone” and described the situation as “desperate.”
On November 18, 2023, individuals are searching for buildings that were destroyed by airstrikes in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Despite calls for a ceasefire, fierce fighting continues in the northern Gaza Strip as Israel surrounds the region.
According to a statement from the WHO, there were clear indications of shelling and gunfire. The team also observed a large grave near the hospital entrance and were informed that over 80 individuals had been buried there.
According to reports, the evaluation group, consisting of experts in public health, logistics officers, and security personnel from different UN divisions, was limited to a one-hour visit to the hospital due to safety worries.
Despite being coordinated with the Israeli military, their visit took place amidst intense fighting near the hospital.
The United Nations organization stated that it, along with its partners, is quickly creating strategies for promptly evacuating any remaining patients, staff, and their families.
The team stated that the hospital was not operating as a proper medical facility due to a lack of clean water, fuel, medication, and other necessary items.
On November 18, 2023, Palestinians in Khan Yunis, located in the southern Gaza Strip, look through the remains of a building in hopes of finding survivors after being bombed by Israel during ongoing conflicts with the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.
The content was provided by Agence France-Presse through Getty Images.
The World Health Organization restated its plea for an urgent halt in fighting and ongoing support for humanitarian efforts.
The Health Ministry of the region reported that on Sunday, a total of 30 premature infants were relocated from the hospital and will be transported to medical facilities in Egypt.
According to a representative from the ministry, there are 32 infants who are among the numerous severely ill individuals currently stranded at the hospital.
Nevertheless, President Joe Biden of the United States stated that a ceasefire does not equate to peace.
The president stated in an article for the Washington Post on Saturday that if Hamas continues to hold onto their destructive ideology, a ceasefire cannot be considered peace.
“According to Mr. Biden, if Hamas remains in power in Gaza, it will continue to spread hate and prevent Palestinian civilians from improving their living conditions.”
During the national protest on November 18, 2023 in Glasgow, United Kingdom, demonstrators took to the streets demanding a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. As calls for a ceasefire in Gaza increase worldwide, the IDF’s advancement into Gaza and evacuation notices for al Shifa hospital have sparked further outcry.
He stated that a ceasefire would allow Hamas to replenish their supply of rockets, relocate fighters, and resume their attacks on innocent people.
The US president stated that if Hamas truly valued Palestinian lives, they would release all hostages, disarm, and surrender their leaders and those responsible for the 7 October attacks.
According to Mr. Biden, my administration has urged for the respect of international humanitarian law, reducing the number of innocent lives lost, and prioritizing the safety of civilians. He emphasized that the objective should not be solely to halt the war for the time being, but to permanently bring an end to it.
The US president stated that there should not be any mandatory removal of Palestinians from Gaza, no reclaiming of land, no blockade or isolation, and no decrease in territory.
This information is from the Independent, a popular news source.
The source for this data is The Independent, a well-known publication.
