The War in Gaza: Death toll from the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has risen to more than 20,000

The death toll from Israeli operations in Gaza has risen to 20,000 since October 7, according to what the Hamas government media office announced on Wednesday, while the arrival of the head of the movement’s political bureau to Cairo and the negotiations taking place behind the scenes revived hopes for reaching a new truce.

Israel pledged to destroy Hamas and declared war on it, in response to an unprecedented attack carried out by the movement on its territory, which led to the killing of about 1,140 people, most of them civilians.

About 250 people were also taken hostage on October 7, 129 of whom are still being held in Gaza, according to Israel.

Despite multiple calls to protect civilians, deadly Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip continue, as does ground fighting, while half of the civilian population suffers from hunger, according to the United Nations.

The government media office in Gaza announced on Wednesday, “at least 20,000 people have been martyred since the start of the war, including 8,000 children and 6,200 women, while the number of injured reached 52,600”.

Meanwhile, indications have emerged of both sides of the conflict being open to a new truce after the previous one, which lasted for a week in late November, allowed for the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and the entry of more aid into the Strip.

But Israel rules out any ceasefire before eliminating Hamas, which has held power in Gaza since 2007.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video published by his office, “We’ll not stop fighting until… eliminating Hamas, releasing its hostages, and putting an end to the threat coming from Gaza,” adding, “Whoever thinks we will stop is disconnected from reality”.

On the other hand, a source close to Hamas said, “The main entry point for discussing anything is a comprehensive ceasefire and the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip… to enter into serious negotiations to conclude a prisoner exchange deal”.

The head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived at the head of a delegation from the movement to Cairo “to hold discussions with Egyptian officials about developments in the Zionist aggression”.

These discussions will discuss several proposals, including ideas including a temporary truce for a week in exchange for Hamas’ release of 40 Israeli prisoners, including women, children, and non-military males,” according to what a source close to Hamas said.

The source added, “this truce is subject to renewal after an understanding is reached on new categories and standards for exchange, and ideas were discussed in Israeli-Qatari discussions with the knowledge of the US administration”.

Before leaving Doha, Haniyeh met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian, who returned and met with the Qatari Prime Minister.

In turn, a source from the Islamic Jihad movement reported that its Secretary-General, Ziad al Nakhalah, will also travel to Cairo early next week.

On Tuesday, during a meeting with families of hostages, Netanyahu said that he had recently sent the head of the Mossad twice to Europe to discuss the process of liberating them.

A source familiar with the discussions confirmed that a positive meeting was held between the head of the Israeli intelligence service (Mossad), David Barnea, and CIA director, William Burns, and the Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al Thani, in Warsaw this week.

The White House confirmed that the truce discussions are very serious.

The US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, “These are very serious discussions and negotiations and we hope they will bear fruit… It’s something we have been working on since the end of the previous pause”.

In this context, Israeli media revealed, on Wednesday, official Israeli estimates stating that reaching a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, and a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip, won’t be achieved before next January.

Based on these estimates published by the media, the negotiations will likely mature next January and will include 30-40 Israeli prisoners in exchange for a one- to two-week truce, the release of prominent Palestinian detainees, and the army’s withdrawal from some areas in Gaza.

The Israeli Channel 13 said, on Wednesday evening, “Israeli officials estimate that the possibility of reaching a new, large exchange deal isn’t favorable before next month”.

Channel 13 added, “The broad outlines are a period of up to two weeks in exchange for the release of 30 to 40 Israeli hostages, the release of a large number of prominent Palestinian detainees, and withdrawal from some areas in Gaza”.

Channel 13continued, “In Israel, they are also ready to consider changing the military deployment in Gaza, in line with war plans”.

In this regard, if the deal is implemented between the current phase of fighting and the next phase, it’s expected that Israel will change its military deployment inside Gaza.

Israeli sources told the media in recent days that Israel will move to the second phase of the war within the middle of next month.

According to a senior Israeli officials, “there is no problem linking this issue to a deal, and portraying it as if it were an achievement for Hamas.

A senior Israeli official says that Hamas is demanding that Israel end the war in exchange for the deal, but this won’t happen.

A senior official, who wasn’t named told Channel 13, “Israel expressed to Qatar and the United States its desire to reach an agreement as soon as possible”.

He added, “The Israeli condition is to include the sick and wounded of all ages, in addition to elderly men and women who are still in captivity”.