ALBAWABA - Inside sources told Sky News Arabia that the Israeli government reached out to Qatari and Egyptian mediators to initiate a new hostage exchange deal in return for a humanitarian truce.
Later in November, following weeks of talks between Israel and Hamas, a 4-day truce was announced, where both Hamas and Israel agreed to halt all military operations in exchange for Hamas to release Israeli hostages who were taken into custody on October 7.
Meanwhile, Israel agreed to release Palestinian hostages held in Israeli prisons, in addition to allowing the entrance of humanitarian and medical aid, food, and fuel into the besieged strip.
Right before the initial truce ended, an extension was announced and the truce ended up being a 7-day humanitarian pause. Fighting and military operations were resumed on December 1st following the release of 105 hostages from Gaza in exchange for 240 Palestinians.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
According to the latest reports by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the death toll has surged to 18,205, with more than half of them being children. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said that 49,645 other people have also been injured in the attacks.
According to the spokesman, 22 hospitals and 46 primary care centers were forced out of service due to the Israeli bombardment. "At least 296 medics were also killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7,".
