(13 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem – 13 January 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Federman, The Associated Press:
"International mediators say that Israel and Hamas are closing in on a ceasefire agreement that would halt their devastating 15-month war. Talks have been taking place in the Qatari capital of Doha in recent days, and mediators report significant progress, though they say that some gaps still need to be bridged. The talks have been taking place on and off for months and they’re focussed on a phased ceasefire agreement. The first phase would last roughly six weeks and, during that time, Hamas would release some of the 100 hostages it’s holding in Gaza. In return, Israel would pull back troops from Palestinian population centres, allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, and also work with international partners to surge badly needed humanitarian aid into the territory. Now, the idea is that this initial phase would open the door toward talks on a final ceasefire agreement that would mean a complete end to the fighting. It would mean a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory. And it would also mean the final return of all remaining hostages, both alive and dead. Now, talks on these issues have been sticky and repeatedly faltered, but there is a key difference this time around. The incoming president elect, Donald Trump, has called on the sides to reach a deal by the time he takes office on January 20th. Those words seem to be heeded by all of the sides, and they appear eager to reach a deal by that time. In fact, Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, hasn’t even started his job officially yet. He’s already on the ground and deeply involved in these talks, hoping to push that agreement across the finish line."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern Israel – 13 January 2025
2. Various of smoke rising on the horizon over Gaza as seen from Southern Israel
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip – 10 January 2025
3. Various of displaced people with empty containers jostling to fill them with cooked food
4. Various of family eating rice in tent
5. Various of tents of displaced people
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tel Aviv, Israel – 11 January 2025
6. Various of protesters chanting, beating drums
POOL
Palm Beach, Florida, US – 7 January 2025
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President-elect:
"If those hostages aren’t back, I don’t want to hurt your negotiations, if they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East and it will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out. I don’t have to say anymore, but that’s what it is. And they should have given them back a long time ago. They should have never taken them."
8. Trump shaking hands with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff
STORYLINE:
Israel and Hamas appear to be inching closer to a phased ceasefire agreement, officials said Monday.
However, a deal hasn’t been reached yet and there are a number of obstacles that could still scupper the talks in Qatar.
Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has ground on for more than 15 months, starting on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250.
A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead.
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, according to Gaza health authorities, which do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
The ministry says women and children were more than half the fatalities.
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