INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The leader of Hamas made his first visit to Egypt for more than a month on Wednesday, a rare personal intervention in diplomacy amid what a
source described as intensive talks on a new ceasefire to let aid reach Gaza and get hostages freed.Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who
normally resides in Qatar, typically intervenes in diplomacy publicly only when progress seems likely
He last travelled to Egypt in early November before the announcement of the only agreement on a ceasefire in the war so far, a week-long
pause during which more than 100 hostages were released.A source briefed on negotiations said envoys were discussing which of the hostages
still held by militants in Gaza could be freed under a new truce agreement, and what prisoners Israel might release in return.Israel was
insisting that all remaining women and infirm men among hostages be released, the source said, declining to be identified
Palestinians convicted of serious offences could be on the list of prisoners to be freed.The source described the negotiations as intensive
and said a breakthrough could be possible within days.A Palestinian official said Haniyeh was keen to listen to Egyptian officials for a
possible new approach and noted that the official position of Hamas was to reject any new temporary ceasefire and demand a permanent halt to
He is in Cairo today to listen to whether Israel has made new proposals or whether Cairo has some too
come as Israel has faced increasing pressure from its international allies to curb a campaign in Gaza that has laid waste to much of the
coastal enclave in retaliation for a Hamas killing spree on Oct
campaign against Hamas leaders and end what U.S
Security Council, where Washington has twice used its veto to shield Israel from international demands for a ceasefire, negotiators put off
a vote on the latest resolution for another day in hope of reaching an agreed text.When asked if they were getting close to an agreement,
the war has entered a more intensive phase, with ground combat previously confined to the northern half of the Gaza Strip now spread across
the length of the coastal enclave.Israel has sworn to defeat Hamas, which rules Gaza, since its fighters killed 1,200 people and captured
Gaza health officials say nearly 20,000 people have since been confirmed killed in Israeli strikes, with thousands more believed lost and
after acknowledging last week that troops mistakenly killed three of those taken
Israel believes 129 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 21 are feared to have died in captivity.In the north, where Israeli forces claimed to
have achieved most of their military objectives last month, fighting has been more intense than ever
Huge orange balls of flame and towers of black smoke soared into the sky over the northern Gaza Strip as seen from across the fence in
Israel, as Israeli warplanes pounded the area at dawn.The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces had besieged its ambulance depot in
Jabalia, a northern settlement that has been the site of some of the most intensive fighting
sheltering after fleeing other areas, there has been intense fighting around the centre of the main southern city Khan Younis, which Israeli
Their focus now is Khan Younis
now sheltering in Khan Younis.Israel says it is doing what it can to protect civilians, including warning them in advance of strikes, and
residents have been driven to the brink of catastrophe by destruction that has forced 90% of them from their homes and a blockade
restricting access to food and medical supplies.
