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CIA chief says no breakthrough in Gaza talks amid conflicting reports of progress

Major sticking points remain between Israel and Hamas, but statements made by officials and media reports signal that a ceasefire deal could happen soon.
3 min read
20 December, 2024
Most of the casualties from Israel's offensive have been women and children, Gaza's health authorities say [Getty/file photo]

No breakthrough in Gaza ceasefire talks held this week in Doha - where CIA Director William Burns has been in attendance - has been achieved,Ìý a US official who spokeÌýon the condition of anonymity toldÌýThe Washington Post.

Israeli demands appear to be the main obstacle to reaching a final deal, but despite the lack of progress, efforts are still underway to end the 14-month war on Gaza, the US official said.

The US, Qatar, and Egypt have spent months trying to mediate a deal that would see Hamas swap captives for Palestinians held in Israel and end hostilities.

Major sticking points include the number and names of Israeli captives to be released, both dead and alive, as well as Israel’s refusal to pull its forces from along the Gaza-Egypt borderÌý- known as the Philadelphi Corridor - and whether displaced Palestinians from northern Gaza will be allowed to return to their homes.

It is also unclear how many Palestinian detainees will be freed but there are around 11,500 behind bars in Israel since 2023 alone, living in poor conditionsÌýwhere torture and insufficient food have been reported.

The negative outcome of Burn's visit to Doha contradicts claims made byÌýIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, who told the families of remaining captives in Gaza that the conditions for a ceasefire deal with Hamas had improved, but not yet finalised, reportedÌýIsrael Hayom.

The newspaper said it was the first time the prime minister’s office has issued a statement talking about "positive developments" in the negotiations with the Palestinian Hamas group since the start of the war on Gaza on 7 October 2023.

Out of 251 hostages taken that day by Hamas in southern Israel, Israel says 101 captives remain held in Gaza, including 35 who have died - someÌýkilled in Israeli strikes.

In a statement, Israel's Hostages and Missing Persons committee said circumstances for concluding a swap deal had improved after the continuation of mediation efforts.

"Israel demands the release of the largest number of living hostages during the first phase of the agreement," the Israeli statement claims, alleging that Hamas rejected this condition.

"Israel's highest priority is to ensure the return of the largest possible number of living hostages."

An Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel on Thursday that finalising a deal will likely take weeks, not days.

Israeli media reported that progress has managed to bridge more gaps on "some of the most controversial issues" andÌýthat Israel was optimistic about reaching an agreement before the 20 January inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump warned early this month thatÌýthere would be "all hell to pay" if Hamas did not release captives held inÌýGazaÌýby the time he takes office, something that is believed to have accelerated truce talks.Ìý

The positive atmosphere comes after Israeli media reports from earlier this week said talks of an imminent deal were "exaggerated".

The war on Gaza has killed over 45,000 people and injured over 107,000 others, mostly women and children according to the enclave’s health authorities.

It has displaced practically all the territory’s 2 million population and pushed large numbers into famine, with little to no access to clean water and food. Gaza’s healthcare system has been battered and most hospitals still open are operating at minimal capacity.

Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were slapped with arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court late last month for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch and the Doctors Without BordersÌý (MSF) charity accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.

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