Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari says Qatar is “optimistic” that a deal on a ceasefire or a cessation of hostilities would be achieved before Ramadan, while United States President Joe Biden says he hopes “by next Monday we will have a ceasefire”.
The proposal envisages a pause in hostilities that could stretch for six weeks, Al Jazeera Arabic reported quoting informed sources. That would allow for the release of 40 Israeli captives held by Hamas in exchange for 400 Palestinians currently in Israeli prisons.
Mediators were reported to be hoping to get a deal in place before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is likely to start on March 10.
“Ramadan’s coming up and there’s been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out,” Biden said in comments broadcast on US TV early on Tuesday.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
Israel’s attacks of civilians were never just that, any more than the Hamas massacre of civilians is in any way forgivable. The sheer number of Palestinian civilians killed shows that only punishing those who committed crimes against humanity was not the objective. This is billed as an Israel Hamas war, but look at who us being killed - far more children than Hamas fighters. And we are talking dead children where we hear no regret being expressed by either side. This is not good versus evil. It is angry men with weapons terrorizing, hurting and killing children. These men grew up… Read more
@SoulfulCampaignGreen2yrs2Y
What is obvious to me, is that this conflict is a forever situation. There is never going to be a resolve where one side "wins". People must ask the question: do they want this to go on forever, or when is it that a line must be drawn for a peaceful and lasting situation.
@HumorousPepperDemocrat2yrs2Y
Two states = lasting peace.
It's considered Holy Land by both factions. One faction just can't grab everything and expect the other side to be complacent thereafter.
No more US and or military support until Israel formally agrees to stop the settlements, which are helping derail any prospect of a two state solution. The US should not be giving billions of dollars unconditionally to an ‘ally’ that refuses to do anything to pursue lasting peace and continually steals Palestinian land.
"In 2019, Mr. Netanyahu told a meeting of his center-right Likud party: “Those who want to thwart the possibility of a Palestinian state should support the strengthening of Hamas and the transfer of money to Hamas. This is part of our strategy.”"
If Netanyahu supports the strengthening of Hamas, then he needs to go. It is an intentional strategy to prolong conflict, making sure it never ends.
Vote them out.
“The Israeli cultivation of Hamas, intended to ensure that Palestinians remained split between the more moderate Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the rulers of Gaza, so making Palestinian statehood impossible,”
Think about that the next time someone tells you that Israel always wanted peace and a political settlement and it was the Palestinians who refused it.
@HopefulTreasury2yrs2Y
I never knew this was Israel strategy of encouraging and funding Hamas to kill peace Very sad. I was among the many who fell for the Mr Netanyahu’s argument that there was no viable piece possible where as he was following the classical divide and kill the peace process.
@MorbidWhitingRepublican2yrs2Y
Look up the Oslo Accords history.
@Fr33domDannyGreen2yrs2Y
The convergence of interests between Netanyahu and Hamas, both of whom are opposed to a two-state solution or any real peace process, has brought us to this. The extremists have utterly failed.
@DirectVictoriaSocialist2yrs2Y
There must be an unselfish desire for peace rooted in the belief that we all have the same value here on earth with the same rights for the same land. We can live side by side as neighbors, sharing equally the resources that are available. The concept is simple. The barriers that have been created in the minds of some are complex. It is not existential for one side or the other in the conflict. It is equally existential for both. Either we will live together in peace or we will end together in struggle.
@9KBLTFQ2yrs2Y
I think Israel should stop bombing the Gaza Strip, and justifying it as them killing Hamas.
@9KBFDXBIndependent2yrs2Y
Israel should remain as a state in the middle east but is too brutal in their treatment of natives
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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