The News Freedom
Chandigarh, November 8
A report in the Israeli news outlet Israel Times said that Cairo is close to reaching a deal for a humanitarian pause in fighting in Gaza in exchange for a swap of prisoners and hostages being held by Hamas. The newspaper quoted the semiofficial Egyptian newspaper Al-Akhbar as a source of information. Israel Times report also said “Qatar in talks to free up to 15 hostages in exchange for 1- to 2-day halt in fighting”.
In addition to it, the Egyptian newspaper Egypt Today reports that Egypt is close to reaching a deal in Gaza that includes implementing a humanitarian truce and exchanging captives, well-informed Egyptian sources told Al Qahera News.
News outlet quoting Egyptian sources revealed that intensive Egyptian contacts are underway to reach the Gaza truce after more than four weeks of the war, noting that there are positive indicators that a deal is around the corner. The non-stop Israeli war against the Gaza Strip since 7 October has left more than 10,000 people dead, mainly women and children, and has injured tens of thousands of individuals.
Meanwhile, in another significant development, The Guardian reports that Israel must not reoccupy Gaza, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said, adding however that Israel may control the territory for a transition period.
The comments, made at the end of a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, echo remarks from the White House, which said on Tuesday that it opposed a long-term occupation of Gaza, the newspaper reported.
A report in The Guardian said, “Gaza cannot be continued to be run by Hamas. That simply invites repetition of October 7,” Blinken said, referring to the attacks by Hamas in Israel. He added: “It’s also clear that Israel cannot occupy Gaza.”