Live Updates: CIA, Mossad, Qatar holding talks for longer Gaza truce - Israeli media

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

04:43 GMT - Talks get underway in Qatar for long-term pause

Talks have been under way in Qatar on a new agreement for a long-term humanitarian pause in Israel's war on besieged Gaza, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation [KAN] has said.

KAN said the pause would include the release of all Israeli captives in besieged Gaza, including soldiers, and Israel's release of Palestinians languishing in jails, including some who had been "convicted" of killing Israelis. Palestinians have always disputed charges against them by occupational government and its courts.

KAN said the Palestinian resistance group Hamas expressed its approval of the broad outlines of the new agreement but added that it demanded a "complete ceasefire," which Israel still rejects.

04:40 GMT — Israel receives list of next captives to be released from Gaza

Israeli news outlets are reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has received the list of names of captives in besieged Gaza.

A sixth group of captives is expected to be freed on Wednesday in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Citing Netanyahu’s office, Israel’s KAN public broadcaster also said notices were sent to the families of the captives expected to be released.

04:15 GMT - Spain politician slams international community for silence over Israel's 'genocide'

The general secretary of Spain's left-wing Podemos party has criticised the international community for its silence in the face of Israel's "attempt to exterminate" the Palestinian people.

Speaking at an event for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People organised by Podemos in the capital Madrid, Ione Belarra, who previously served as minister of social rights, said a Europe that does not exert social, political, economic, diplomatic and legal pressure against Israel cannot lecture anyone about human rights.

She rejected Israel's "colonial" policy towards Palestinians. "Why does Israel continue to commit genocide against Palestine with impunity?" she said.

04:00 GMT - Activists gather near US Capitol to demand Gaza ceasefire

A dozen pro-Palestinian activists have gathered near the US Capitol building to demand a ceasefire in besieged Gaza. They held inflatable letters spelling out the words "ceasefire now."

Robert McCaw, director of government affairs for the Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR], told Anadolu Agency the US should not support Israel with taxpayer funds and weapons.

"We are here with community members to remind Congress, while they are lighting up their Christmas tree, that we are demanding a ceasefire now," said McCaw.

03:43 GMT - US senator calls for 'indefinite ceasefire' in Gaza

A Democratic US senator has called for an "indefinite" ceasefire in besieged Gaza to "prevent further loss of civilian life."

In a statement, Peter Welch, from the state of Vermont, said although he supports Israel's right to pursue those who carried out the October 7 attacks, he said Israel "must not do so in a way that leads to massive civilian casualties and the large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza."

"This will only incite more enemies against Israel and the US," he said. "For this reason, the ceasefire must be extended indefinitely."

03:20 GMT - Ben-Gvir warns of dissolving Israeli govt if war stops

Israel's extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened that stopping the war on besieged Gaza would dissolve the Israeli government.

"Stopping the war = dissolution of the government," Ben-Gvir said on X.

His remarks coincided with reports of efforts to extend the humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in besieged Gaza.

03:00 GMT - G7 foreign ministers support extension of pause in fighting

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven countries have supported the further extension of the pause and future pauses in Gaza to increase assistance and facilitate the release of all hostages, they said in a joint statement.

"Every effort must be made to ensure humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. We support the further extension of this pause and future pauses as needed to enable assistance to be scaled up, and to facilitate the release of all hostages," the joint statement added.

For our live updates from Tuesday (November 28), click here.