Negotiations underway to instigate a truce in the ongoing conflict in Gaza
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the massacre on October 7, 2023, claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people and left more than 250 hostages in Gaza. The Israeli military confirmed the death of al-Shaikh, a leader of a terrorist cell within Hamas.
Amidst the chaos, calls for a ceasefire have been heard from unexpected quarters. Bishara Bahbah, a confidant of US President Donald Trump, has advocated for a 60-day truce, claiming it could save lives and create conditions for real progress. Bahbah has also been involved in recent contacts between the USA and Hamas. US special envoy Steve Witkoff has been instrumental in mediating a two-stage plan for a ceasefire, which includes the release of about half of the Israeli hostages over a 60-day temporary truce, followed by negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argues that more military pressure on Hamas is needed to end the war. In contrast, President Trump has referred to the massacre by Hamas and other terrorist groups but has not yet commented on whether he supports Israel's planned escalation of the war.
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has condemned the killing of Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Shaikh and four other staff members by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. Reporters Without Borders reported that a freelance journalist was also killed, making the total death toll six in the incident. Kallas has also called for more support for the suffering people in the besieged Gaza Strip and urged Israel to allow more trucks in and facilitate better aid distribution.
Israel's new war plan includes not only the takeover of the city of Gaza but also the destruction of Hamas in the central refugee camps of the Gaza Strip. The war between Israel and Hamas began after the October 7, 2023, massacre.
As the conflict continues, the number of casualties could increase if the war escalates further. Bahbah's call for a ceasefire serves as a glimmer of hope amidst the violence, offering a potential path towards resolution and the restoration of peace.
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