"Israel and Hamas have both endorsed the overall principles behind US president Donald Trump's plan, under which fighting would cease, hostages would go free and aid would pour into Gaza. The plan also has the backing of Arab and Western states. Mr Trump has called for negotiations towards a final deal to take place swiftly. Washington has said this is the closest the sides have come to ending the fighting."
"Mr Trump has told Israel to suspend its bombing of Gaza for the talks. Gaza residents said Israel had scaled back its offensive substantially, although it had not halted it altogether. Gaza health authorities reported 19 people killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours - around a third of the typical daily toll of recent weeks, during which Israel has been mounting one of its biggest offensives of the war. Egyptian state TV reported that talks had begun at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh."
"The talks commenced on the eve of the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war, when fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and left the majority of Gazans homeless and hungry in the rubble of an enclave destroyed by relentless bombardment. Egyptian sources said Hamas was seeking clarification on several details, including guarantees that Israel would follow through with promises to withdraw its troops from Gaza once the militants give up their leverage by freeing their hostages."
Israel and Hamas endorsed US president Donald Trump's proposed principles for a phased agreement to halt fighting, secure the release of hostages, and channel humanitarian aid into Gaza. Arab and Western states also backed the approach, and Washington described ongoing talks as the closest chance yet to end the fighting. Negotiations began in Sharm El-Sheikh with calls for rapid progress and a partial suspension of Israeli strikes. Both sides sought clarifications on long-standing, contentious details, including assurances of Israeli troop withdrawal after hostages are freed. Gaza continued to suffer casualties, destruction, and severe displacement.
Read at Irish Independent
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