Here's what you need to know: Israel and Hamas distance themselves from ceasefire optimism as death toll reaches new milestone
This image shows a camp for internally displaced Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 28, 2024 (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
After US President Joe Biden expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire agreement with the hostages in Gaza later this week, officials from Israel, Hamas and Qatar distanced themselves from his comments.
Meetings are currently taking place, but there are disagreements over “numbers, proportions and troop movements,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said the militant group had shown flexibility in negotiations but remained ready to continue the fight.
The death toll in Gaza is now approaching 30,000, according to the enclave's health ministry. According to the ministry, the total number of people killed in Gaza since October 7th is around 29,878 and the number of injured is 70,215.
Here's what you should know:
Fire in Lebanon: An exchange of fire broke out between Lebanon and Israel near the border on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Israeli Defense Forces. About “10 rocket launchers” flew from Lebanon into northern Israel, with sirens blaring near Kiryat Shmona, the IDF said. In response, he said he was also targeting “hot spots” in Lebanon.
Palestinian factions meeting in Moscow: The Palestinian political faction Fatah told CNN it would attend an intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow on Thursday. The meeting will discuss ways to “unite the Palestinian factions under the Palestine Liberation Organization,” Fatah spokesman Hussein Hamayel told CNN.
Relatives of the hostages begin the march: Families of hostages in Gaza have begun a four-day march from the site of the Nova festival in Re'im, southern Israel, to Jerusalem, reiterating their demands for the hostages' release on October 7. There are believed to be 130 hostages still in Gaza, 99 of whom are believed to still be alive.
Families demand answers: Mohammad Khdour, 17, died when an Israeli soldier opened fire on his family's car and shot him in the head. The Florida-born U.S. citizen's death, just weeks after another 17-year-old U.S. citizen was shot, has highlighted frustration among Palestinian Americans who say their country is doing little to respond to the deaths of their loved ones .
Shelter in the Gaza Chapel: Some Palestinians seek refuge in St. Philip's Chapel in Gaza City. The chapel has become a makeshift emergency room for Palestinians injured in the Israeli military offensive.
Film director receives death threats: Israeli journalist and film director Yuval Abraham said he received death threats and canceled his flight home from the Berlin International Film Festival in response to an acceptance speech in which he condemned the “apartheid situation” in Gaza and called for a ceasefire.