Hope is on the horizon in the Middle East as Israel indicates significant strides in Gaza truce negotiations, while Syria ramps up its efforts to secure support for post-conflict reconstruction.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that there has been notable progress towards a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement with Hamas, although he emphasized that the timeline for a final deal remains uncertain.
Earlier in the day, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar detailed aspects of the proposed agreement during a closed session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, describing it as a \"phased, gradual framework.\"
Reports from Israeli and Palestinian media suggest that mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. are facilitating these discussions, with advancements made, though a breakthrough is still pending.
Amichai Chikli, Israel's Diaspora Minister, spoke to Kan Reshet Bet public radio, stating that the parties involved are closer to an agreement than in recent months. He outlined the initial phase as \"a humanitarian phase,\" which would include a 42-day ceasefire and the release of some hostages.
\"This ceasefire could last six months or 10 years, depending on the dynamics that develop on the ground,\" Chikli explained.
The duration of the ceasefire has been a critical point of contention in past negotiations. While Hamas seeks to end the conflict outright, Israel demands the removal of Hamas' control over Gaza before any lasting resolution, maintaining a military presence in the Palestinian enclave even after the ceasefire.
In related developments, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed for the first time that Israel was responsible for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Haniyeh was killed during his visit to attend former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's funeral.
The Israeli military has also claimed responsibility for the deaths of other key figures, including Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in southern Gaza and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Dahieh, a southern Beirut suburb.
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'Progress' in Gaza truce talks, Syria seeks reconstruction support
cgtn.com
