Regarding negotiations for the release of hostages held by the Islamic organization Hamas and a cessation of fighting, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said at a press conference on the 29th, ``It was a productive discussion,'' expressing hope for progress in the negotiations. I showed it. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that there is a gap between the claims of Israel and Hamas, and it is unclear whether negotiations will be concluded.
The Israeli military announced on the 29th that it is continuing to carry out airstrikes and ground forces in areas such as Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and Gaza City in the north.
Health officials in the Gaza Strip say 26,422 people have been killed in Israeli attacks so far.
Against this backdrop, negotiations were held in Europe on the 28th towards the release of hostages held by Hamas and a cessation of fighting.
The participants included Director Burns of the American CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), the head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, and representatives from Egypt and Qatar, who acted as intermediaries.
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said at a press conference on the 29th that proposals were shared between Israel, Egypt and Qatar, and that it was "a very important and productive discussion."
Although he declined to comment on the content of the proposal, he said, ``It is a strong and persuasive proposal,'' and expressed hope for progress in negotiations.
Kirby, the White House's strategic communications coordinator, said at a press conference that talks toward the release of the hostages are ongoing, adding, ``There is still a lot of work to do and an agreement is not imminent. Based on today's discussions, I feel that we are moving in the right direction."
On the other hand, Hamas is seeking a permanent ceasefire, but it is unclear whether negotiations will be reached as Israel is unwilling to accept it and some point out that there is a gap in its claims.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: ``Good progress has been made''
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Mohammad, who is acting as a mediator for negotiations between Israel and the Islamic group Hamas towards a cessation of fighting and the release of hostages, mentioned the talks at an event in Washington, D.C., on the 29th. did.
In the meeting, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed said of the talks held in Europe, attended by representatives of the relevant countries, ``At least we have made good progress in laying the foundations for progress.'' "We hope that they will actively and constructively engage in the process, because this is the only way to de-escalate the situation."
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed also commented on the drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan in the Middle East, which killed three soldiers, saying, ``It undermines our efforts and disrupts the process we have been working on.'' "I hope that this does not endanger the situation. In any case, there is no doubt that it will have an impact on regional security."