Optimism around Gaza ceasefire deal - but there's a key sticking point
Monday, 19 August 2024 () Antony Blinken's announcement, after a day of meetings with the Israeli president, prime minister, and defence minister, that a bridging proposal has been agreed, is an optimistic end to a day that began with serious doubts about the potential ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed strong support for the latest U.S. hostage deal proposal, describing his recent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as "historic" and "game-changing." The proposal, aimed at securing a ceasefire and addressing humanitarian concerns, comes amid heightened tensions with Hamas. Netanyahu emphasised the importance of the deal in addressing Israel's security needs and the ongoing negotiations' potential to reshape the conflict's dynamics. The endorsement highlights a pivotal moment in diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and underscores the critical role of international mediation in the region.
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The US Secretary of States arrival comes after US and fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar said they were closing in on a deal after two days of talks in Doha, with American and Israeli officials expressing cautious optimism.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:48Published
In a stark reminder of the violence that marked the Second Intifada, Raed Misk, a Hamas operative, orchestrated a suicide bombing on Jerusalem's Egged Bus No. 2 on August 19, 2003. The attack resulted in 24 fatalities, including 7 children, and injured over 130 people. Misk, who had disguised himself as a Haredi Jew, used a bomb filled with ball bearings to maximise casualties. He cited the killing of a Hamas leader by the Israeli army as his motivation, expressing pride in his actions in a video released by Hamas. On the 21st anniversary of the bombing, Hamas released excerpts from Misk's will, coinciding with a new suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, highlighting the ongoing violence in the region. This attack continues to underscore the tragic and persistent nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
#Hamas #RaedMisk #2003BusBombing #JerusalemAttack #TelAvivBombing #HamasOperative #IsraeliConflict #MiddleEastTerror #BombingAnniversary #TerroristAttack #PublicTransportAttack #ViolentConflict #HamasTerror #MiddleEastViolence #IsraelSecurity
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