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Breaking: Israel and Hamas are 'close to reaching a truce agreement'
Here is our main story this morning, that brings you the news that Hamas has claimed it is close to agreeing a truce with Israel.
Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement issued this morning that the terror gorup has delivered its response to Qatari mediators.
Qatar is understood to be working on the agreement.
Click the link below to read the full report:
Israel-Hamas war: What you need to know on day 45 on the on-going conflict
Good morning and welcome to MailOnline's liveblog covering the 45th day of the on-going war between Israel and Hamas.
The war was sparked on October 7 when Hamas gunmen killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in shocking cross-border raids into Israel.
Since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says more than 13,000 people have been killed inside Gaza by Israel's relentless bombardment and siege.
Amid reports that the two enemies are nearing a truce agreement that could see hostages released, and as IDF troops close in around another hospital, here's what you need to know about the conflict on November 21, 2023:
- Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this morning that a truce agreement with Israel was in sight, raising hopes that dozens of people taken hostage in the October 7 attacks could be released.
- There was no immediate response from Israel on the status of negotiation efforts to secure the release of the estimated 240 hostages seized on Oct. 7.
- Speaking to AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, sources from Hamas and Islamic Jihad - which also participated in the attacks - confirmed that their groups had agreed to the terms of a truce deal.
- The tentative deal includes a five-day truce, comprised of a ceasefire on the ground and limits to Israeli air operations over southern Gaza.
- Under the agreement, between 50 and 100 Israeli civilian and foreign hostages would be released, but no military personnel. In exchange, some 300 Palestinians would be released from Israeli jails.
- In Gaza, medics and patients were again caught on the front line on Tuesday, as Israel expanded its operation across the north of the territory.
- Officials in the Hamas-run health ministry said Israel struck the Indonesian Hospital on Monday, killing 12 people, before moving in ground forces.
- The hospital is said to be surrounded by IDF tanks and other heavy armour.
- Twenty-eight premature babies were evacuated from Al-Shifa to Egypt on Monday. (Click here to read MailOnline's full story).
- Israel says Hamas uses medical facilities to hide fighters and as the base for operations, making them legitimate military objectives - while insisting it does everything possible to limit harm to civilians.
- International criticism of Israel's conduct of the war has grown in recent weeks, with protests erupting across the world, international agencies laying allegations of war crimes, and some governments breaking diplomatic ties.
- The World Health Organisation said it was 'appalled' by Monday's strike on the Indonesian Hospital and reported it was just one of 164 documented attacks on health facilities and workers since the war began.
Update includes reporting from AFP news agency
English (US)