Key events
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza has reached 46,584, the health ministry says
At least 46,584 Palestinian people were killed and 109,731 injured in the Israeli attack on Gaza since October 7, 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Monday.
At least 19 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.
Gaza’s health ministry said in the past that thousands of other dead people are likely to have perished in the rubble of the territory.
Biden and Netanyahu are arguing over the hostage deal amid cautious hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Israel’s war in Gaza and developments in the wider Middle East.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the president of the US; Joseph Bidenyesterday he spoke about efforts to reach a ceasefire and a hostage release deal in Israel’s Gaza war. Momentum appears to be building, but uncertainty remains over key aspects of the potential agreement.
The White House said Biden had “fundamentally changed regional ties” following Israel’s firefight with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the rapid offensive by rebels that undermined former President Bashar al-Assad in Syria last month, and the dilution of Iran’s influence in the region. after the Israeli military killed many of its senior leaders in the autumn.
Netanyahu was reported to have updated Biden on the order he had given to senior negotiators in Doha “to promote the release of the hostages.” Western intelligence services estimate that at least a third of the 95 or so of the remaining Israeli prisoners in Gaza have been killed. About 250 people were taken hostage in the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which an estimated 1,300 people were killed.
Sunday’s call between Biden and Netanyahu comes as the head of Israel’s Mossad foreign intelligence agency; David Barneaand Biden’s senior middle east adviser, Brett McGurkboth in Doha. Barnea meant the presence of high-level Israeli officials who needed to sign any agreement that is now involved in talks.
McGurk worked on the individual final text to stand in both directions. US national security adviser; Jake SullivanCNN said.
“We are close,” he said. “Still close still means we’re far because while we’ve actually crossed the finish line, we’re not there yet.”
An official told Reuters on Monday that Qatar had handed over to Israel and Hamas the “final” draft of a cease-fire and hostage-release deal intended to end the war. We have not been able to independently verify this statement.
Ceasefire talks have repeatedly stalled even as officials have expressed hope for so-called breakthroughs. Netanyahu has been accused of delaying the deal for political reasons, possibly waiting for Donald Trump to take office on January 20. Trump has said there will be “hell to pay” if Hamas does not release its hostages before he takes office, suggesting he will ask for a deal before inauguration day.
Like my colleague Lawrence Tondo and Bethan McKernan note in this storyHamas insists that any negotiations on the hostage settlement will be part of a comprehensive agreement to end the rebellion in Gaza, while Netanyahu is seeking a more articulated agreement, asking for an agreement that would see the release of some, though not all, of the hostages, while keeping the same time as Hamas negotiated with Hamas.
Israel’s finance minister; Beseleel SmotrichHe worked very hard on the criticism Gazasaying it was a “disaster” for Israel’s security and a “betrayal” for Hamas.
Netanyahu was informed of the support of Smotrich and other far-right elements of his coalition government – such as the minister of national security. Itamar Ben–True – With that minister of defense Benny Gantz Quit Israel’s sudden war chest in the order over the policy in the war and the Israeli hostages that Hamas held. We’ll bring you the latest at the end of the day.