US envoys work for new hostage deal as Israeli barrage continues

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will keep fighting until it ends Hamas rule in Gaza, crushes its formidable military capabilities and frees hostages still held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 attack inside Israel that ignited the war. Militants killed about 1200 people and abducted 240 others in the attack.

The war has killed more than 19,000 Palestinians and demolished much of the north into a moonscape. About 1.9 million Palestinians — nearly 85 per cent of Gaza’s population — have fled their homes, with most packing into UN-run shelters and tent camps in the southern part of the besieged territory.

In an apparent sign that talks on a hostage deal were growing more serious, CIA director William Burns met in Warsaw with the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency and the prime minister of Qatar, a US official said.

It was the first known meeting of the three since the end of a weeklong ceasefire in late November, during which about 100 hostages – including several foreign nationals – were freed in exchange for the release of about 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the talks were not “at a point where another deal is imminent”.

Aiming to increase public pressure on the Israeli government, Hamas released a video showing three elderly Israeli hostages, sitting in white T-shirts and pleading for Israel to bring their immediate release.

The comments were probably made under duress, but the video signalled Hamas wanted to move on to discussions of releasing sick and elderly men in captivity. Israel has said it wants about 19 women and two children freed first. Hamas says the women include soldiers, for whom it is expected to demand a higher price in terms of prisoner releases.

Hamas and other militants are still holding an estimated 129 captives. Hamas has said no more hostages will be released until the war ends.

Mr Austin, who arrived in Israel with Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General C.Q. Brown, said he and Israeli officials exchanged “thoughts on how to transition from high-intensity operations” in Gaza and how to increase the flow of humanitarian aid.

American officials have called for targeted operations aimed at killing Hamas leaders, destroying tunnels and rescuing hostages. US President Joe Biden warned last week that Israel was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate bombing”.

Speaking alongside Mr Austin, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said only that “the war will take time”.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the Israeli chief of staff met with Mr Austin and Mr Brown and presented “plans for the continuation of the battle in the coming stages”.

European countries appear to be losing patience. “Far too many civilians have been killed in Gaza,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell posted on X.

Evacuation instructions

Under US pressure, Israel provided more precise evacuation instructions earlier this month as troops moved into the southern city of Khan Younis. Still, casualties have continued to mount and Palestinians say nowhere in Gaza is safe as Israel carries out strikes in all parts of the territory.

Israel reopened its main cargo crossing with Gaza to allow more aid in – also after a US request. But the amount is less than half of pre-war imports, even as needs have soared and fighting hinders delivery in many areas. Israel blocked entry of all goods into Gaza soon after the war started and weeks later began allowing a small amount of aid in through Egypt.

In Bahrain early on Tuesday, Mr Austin said that the US and other nations had created a new force to protect commercial ships passing through the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Houthis say their attacks aim to end Israel’s offensive in Gaza, and their campaign has prompted a growing list of companies to halt operations in the major trade route.

”This is an international challenge that demands collective action,” Mr Austin said.

Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have traded fire along the border nearly every day since the war began. And in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, including four overnight during an Israeli military raid in the Faraa refugee camp, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

This has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005. Most have been killed during military raids, which often ignite gunbattles, or during violent demonstrations.

AP