Deal to be reached with Hamas before Trump's inauguration, Israeli official

CAIRO- 21 November 2024:  Israeli Broadcasting Corporation cited a senior security official, saying that ‘circumstances have changed and we are close to reaching an agreement with Hamas’

The official added that ‘it is likely a deal will be reached before Trump's inauguration next January.’ According to al Qahera news channel.

The proposed outlines of the deal with Hamas according to the source include a first humanitarian phase and a 42-day ceasefire.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued on Thursday an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamine Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minster Yoav Gallant.

The Pre-trial Chamber 1 of the ICC issued on Thursday the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant for commuting “crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest.” 

“The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu, born on 21 October 1949, Prime Minister of Israel at the time of the relevant conduct, and Mr Gallant, born on 8 November 1958, Minister of Defence of Israel at the time of the alleged conduct, each bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts,” the court said in a statement.

In a statement, the Hamas movement welcomed the court’s decision and call d for expanding the scope of accountability against the Israeli officials over war crimes against the Palestinians. 

The movement added that this step “constitutes an important historical precedent, and a correction to a long path of historical injustice against our people.”

The United States vetoed on Wednesday a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The US representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas, considered that an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza means recognizing Hamas's continued presence in the Strip.

The draft resolution addressed several issues related to the release of detainees, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

All members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution proposed for a ceasefire in Gaza except the United States.