All news

US, Qatar, Israel discuss pause in Gaza hostilities for up to 3 days – report

According to NBC News, Hamas must release all hostages before the Israeli side agrees to a ceasefire

NEW YORK, November 8. /TASS/. The US, Qatar and Israel are discussing a proposal to announce a humanitarian pause for as many as three days to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the possible release of some hostages, NBC News reported, citing two diplomats.

Qatar is acting as an intermediary and has held talks with Hamas for weeks about halting the fighting for humanitarian reasons, the report said. Israeli officials have said Hamas must first release all hostages before Israel will agree to a ceasefire, according to NBC.

A senior Arab official told the television channel there was hope that the deal could be reached.

Axios earlier reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that humanitarian pauses would give Israel more time for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip and would reduce pressure on the administration of US President Joe Biden.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. Hamas regards the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and has started delivering strikes on that area and parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.