Hamas is studying the latest Israeli counterproposal to a truce that would allow the release of the hostages kidnapped on October 7. After several weeks of blockade, the two parties seem to be giving new energy to the diplomatic pulse, which today will focus on Riyadh, where an economic summit focused on Gaza will bring together the North American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, with various European leaders and Arabs.
While Hamas proposes a permanent ceasefire, Israel insists it be for a few weeks.
In Gaza, both in the hands of Hamas and other armed groups, there are 129 hostages, of which 34 have reportedly died.
While awaiting the offensive on Rafah, Israeli aviation does not stop bombing the city, the refugee camp of the same name and the surrounding area. Israel estimates that Hamas has regrouped four battalions there.
Egypt, which has a mediating delegation in Israel, Qatar and the United States are trying to achieve a new truce in Gaza, after the week-long pause in November that allowed 80 hostages to be exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
There are no details of the Israeli counterproposal, but local media anticipate the possible release of about twenty hostages for humanitarian reasons.
The Riyadh economic conference will allow Blinken – recently arrived from China – to meet with the prime ministers of Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Qatar, as well as the foreign ministers of Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
Tomorrow, Monday, the conference will focus on Gaza, where the situation of the population is very critical. The World Food Program warns that famine “is a real and dangerous threat.” UNRWA, the backbone of humanitarian operations, does not have adequate financial support, after Israel claimed that several of its employees participated in the October 7 massacre.
If Israeli aircraft continue to hit Gaza, the exchange of artillery fire also continues to be very intense along the border between Israel and Lebanon, where the Hizbullah militia maintains a large fire capacity.
Faced with the risk of an escalation of the conflict, tens of thousands of people gathered again yesterday in London to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and negotiations for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
