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© Reuters. Palestinians examine the location of an Israeli strike on a home, amid the continued battle between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah within the southern Gaza Strip December 14, 2023. REUTERS/Sami Abu Tabak
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By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Ibrahim Abu Mustafa and Dan Williams
CAIRO/GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel appeared to verify that new negotiations have been below technique to get better hostages held by Hamas, after a supply stated Israel’s intelligence chief met the prime minister of Qatar, a rustic mediating within the Israeli-Palestinian battle.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed a press convention on Saturday the struggle in Gaza was existential and should be fought till victory. He stated Gaza could be demilitarised and below Israeli safety management.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza helped clinch a partial hostage-release deal in November, Netanyahu stated, vowing to take care of intense army stress on Hamas. He has vowed to destroy the militant Palestinian group, which runs the densely populated strip.
“The instruction I’m giving the negotiating group relies on this stress, with out which we have now nothing,” he stated.
Hamas militants killed 1,200 folks and captured 240 hostages in a shock raid into Israel on Oct. 7. Israel’s counteroffensive has killed near 19,000 folks, based on Gaza well being authorities, and left 1000’s buried within the rubble.
Assist organisations say the destruction of Gaza and the displacement of most of its 2.3 million folks – many residing in tents and makeshift shelters with out meals or clear water – is a humanitarian disaster.
The top of Israel’s Mossad spy company, David Barnea, met Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani late on Friday, based on a supply with information of the matter, as consideration turned to a potential Gaza truce and a prisoner and hostage deal.
The assembly in Europe was apparently the primary between senior officers from Israel and Qatar, which has been appearing as a mediator, because the collapse of a seven-day ceasefire in late November.
‘GET THEM OUT OF HELL’
Netanyahu sidestepped a query concerning the assembly however confirmed he had given directions to the negotiating group.
“Now we have critical criticisms of Qatar,” he stated, alluding to the gas-rich Gulf state’s ties to Hamas and Israel’s arch-foe Iran. “However proper now we try to finish the restoration of our hostages.”
Hamas stated in a press release it “affirms its place to not open any negotiations to alternate prisoners except the aggression towards our folks stops as soon as and for all,” including: “The motion communicated this place to all mediators.”
The unintended killing of three hostages by Israeli forces has put elevated stress on Netanyahu to discover a technique to safe the discharge of these held.
As Netanyahu spoke, a number of hundred folks staged a protest in Tel Aviv, with some holding placards, together with one saying “get them out of hell.” A speaker shouted: “Convey them residence now!”
At dusk on Saturday, residents reported intensified preventing within the centre of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, with Israeli planes and tanks bombing and shelling and the sound of rocket grenades, apparently fired by Hamas fighters.
“Every single day the state of affairs will get worse. Meals will get much less, water will get worse. Solely demise, concern and destruction get higher,” stated Samira, 40, a mom of 4, who’s displaced in Rafah, close to the southern border with Egypt.
In indicators of the broader ramifications of the battle, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis stated that they had attacked the Israeli Purple Sea resort of Eilat with a swarm of drones, one among a number of drone incidents reported within the area on Saturday.
Two main freight companies stated they might keep away from the Suez Canal because the Houthis stepped up assaults on industrial vessels within the Purple Sea.
The U.S. Central Command stated the destroyer Carney had shot down 14 Houthi drones within the Purple Sea. Britain stated one among its warships had shot down a suspected assault drone concentrating on service provider transport.
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