The Israel-Hamas war

The Israel-Hamas war|The negotiations
Details: The US is considering its own deal with Hamas

The United States is considering opening negotiations directly with Hamas for the release of the remaining four American citizens taken hostage in Gaza, who are believed to be alive. This is written by The Telegraph with reference to sources.

A source tells the paper that the US has "already started looking" at what an agreement to get the hostages released could look like.

The families of the hostages held by the terror-labeled group have called on the US government to abandon efforts to get Israel to sign a deal in favor of a separate accord.

Last week, President Joe Biden said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to get a deal done. Talks have stalled following Netanyahu's demand to keep Israeli forces on the Egypt-Gaza border.

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Hamas appeal to the US: Press Israel for a cease-fire

Hamas calls on the United States to "put pressure" on Israel to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, reports AFP and refers to a statement from the terrorist group. Negotiations have stalled after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal was close.

Netanyahu is demanding that Israel retain control of the border between Egypt and Gaza, prompting Hamas to accuse the prime minister of trying to block a deal.

At a press conference in Haiti, the US Secretary of State spoke about the need for both parties to make an effort to bring about a truce.

- Based on what I have seen, they are 90 percent in agreement, but there are some critical questions that remain, he says according to Reuters.

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Netanyahu and Hamas in new row over cease-fire in Gaza

Details of prisoner exchange and where Israel is to withdraw its forces are the two questions that remain to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, reports SVT with reference to a high-ranking source in the White House.

- 90 percent of the agreement is complete, the source told the channel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is of a different opinion. On Wednesday, he accused Hamas of not wanting to negotiate a truce, according to Israeli media. The statement has stirred emotions among the terror-labeled group.

In a statement, Hamas states that Netanyahu's demand to maintain forces on the border between Egypt and Gaza "aims to prevent an agreement", writes AFP.

"We do not need new proposals," the group writes in a statement on the messaging service Telegram. 

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The Israel-Hamas war The situation in the West Bank
Israel leaves Jenin after the West Bank offensive

During Friday, the Israeli army withdrew from the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, writes AFP, which has spoken to witnesses in the area. This after a ten-day military offensive against militant Palestinians that is described as the largest ever in the area.

The news agency writes that 36 people were killed during Israel's operation. Israel's defense force, the IDF, states that "14 terrorists have been eliminated" and that over 30 suspects have been arrested. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have said at least 14 of the people killed were militant group members.

Palestinian authorities and human rights organizations have sounded the alarm that civilians have been hit hard by Israel's attacks in the West Bank.