Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal finalised? Netanyahu denies claim as war enters 'next stage'
The Washington Post was vehemently denied by both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials. The hostage release could begin within the next several days, barring last-minute hitches, according to people familiar with the detailed, six-page agreement, the paper said on Saturday. The debated mention of the ceasefire agreement comes even as Israel seemingly increases their aggressiveness in the ground offensive against Hamas militants to southern Gaza after air strikes killed dozens of Palestinians, including civilians reported to be sheltering at two schools.
Israel said it was entering the “next stage" of the six-week-old war against Hamas as focus shifted to the south of the besieged Gaza Strip. Separately, Israeli paratroopers raided what were called the homes of senior Hamas officials in northern Gaza. It was earlier reported that close to 240 people were taken hostage by Hamas following the October 7 surprise attack on Israel.
It is not clear how many of these hostages would be released as part of the US-brokered deal. A White House spokesperson dismissed reports of Israel and Hamas agreeing to a temporary ceasefire deal. "No deal yet but we continue to work hard to get a deal," Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House's National Security Council, said in a statement, reported Reuters.
A second official also confirmed no deal had been reached. According to the Washington Post report, the ground movement would be monitored by overhead surveillance, which would help police with the five-day pause. The temporary stopping of the ongoing operation in Gaza is also intended to allow a significant amount of humanitarian aid, including fuel, to enter the enclave from Egypt.
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