David Barnea

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli ground offensive on the Gaza Strip play at the makeshift tent camp in Rafah, Jan. 23, 2024.

Hamas said talks in Qatar on Tuesday aimed at a truce and hostage-prisoner exchange in Gaza were "serious and positive", a day after an Israeli delegation flew in to meet with mediators.

Negotiators discussed what they’re calling a “mini” ceasefire proposal in Doha, which, according to a Jerusalem Post report, would enable a short-term pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas with the release of a limited number of hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security council meeting at 20:00 today, gathering his cabinet ministers and intelligence chiefs to discuss diplomatic efforts for a resolution to the conflict in Lebanon, reported Axios journalist Barak Ravid on X, citing two sources and Israeli med

The situation in the Middle East remains highly volatile and appears increasingly grim. In Western capitals, there is significant concern about a potential escalation of Israel’s conflict with the terrorist organizations Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iranian involvement cannot be dismissed either.

Israeli negotiators were taking part Thursday in talks on Gaza in Cairo, a government spokesman said, as fighting raged on the ground despite U.S. pressure on Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement.

Hopes for a deal have dwindled though as Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have traded blame for failing to reach a deal after more than 10 months of war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel would consider a pre-emptive strike on Iran if it had solid evidence that Tehran was preparing to launch an attack against it, Israeli media reported after Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Israel’s security chiefs this afternoon on Sunday.

A deadly strike hit a school turned shelter in southern Gaza on Tuesday as Israeli forces in the war-ravaged territory's main city pushed on with a major offensive that has again displaced Palestinians.

A hospital source in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza said at least 29 people were killed when the school was hit in nearby Abasan.

Thousands of Israelis protested Saturday in several cities, demanding a hostage swap deal with Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and early parliamentary elections, according to Israeli media.

Thousands in Kaplan Square in central Tel Aviv demanded a hostage deal and that the government should not miss the opportunity again, said the state-run broadcasting authority.

Israel carried out deadly airstrikes in Gaza Saturday, including one on a U.N.-run school that killed 16 people according to the Hamas-run authorities, and as violence also gripped its northern border with Lebanon.

“We prefer not to delve into these ideas yet. We await a response, likely by today (Friday) or tomorrow morning (Saturday),” Hamdan emphasized.

“If the response is positive, we will delve into the details of these ideas, aiming for their swift implementation,” he added optimistically.