Hamas accepts draft agreement of Gaza ceasefire with Israel: Officials

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a speech on Tuesday said “I believe we will get a ceasefire. It’s right on the brink. It’s closer than it’s ever been before.”

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been involved in finalising a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas since last year and secure the release of hostages captured during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which started the offensive. As per reports, around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza.

Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments are seen inside the Gaza Strip from southern Israel, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo)

The three phase agreement which is based on a blueprint laid down by the US President Joe Biden and supported by the United Nations Security Council would first see 33 hostages being released in a six week period.

A deal would bring a pause to the violence in Gaza where around 90% of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced, with many at the risk of famine. Israel’s offensive has killed over 46,000 people in Palestine, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel in 2023 had left over 1,200 dead and around 250 were taken hostage by the militant group. Around half of those hostages were freed during a brief pause in fighting in November 2023.

As the ceasefire talks reached in its final stage, the Israeli offensive didn’t deter and Israel Defense Forces’ airstrikes on two homes in central Gaza on Tuesday killed at least 17 Palestinians.

Earlier, the health officials of Palestine said that at least 18 people, including two women and four children were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

From the homepage

Chhattisgarh liquor ‘scam’: ED says ‘syndicate apex’ Chaitanya Baghel handled Rs 1,000 cr of proceeds

‘Rs 92 lakh and gold found’ during raids at ACS officer Nupur Bora’s house, Himanta says she profited from sale of ‘Hindu’s lands to Muslims’

UP village tense after 19-year-old chasing ‘cattle smugglers’ found dead