United States National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, has said Israel could be ready for ceasefire in December as he recently visited Israel for discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aimed at reviving efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Following their meeting, Sullivan shared his belief that Netanyahu might be “ready to do a deal,” which could lead to a halt in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, as well as the release of the 100 hostages still held by the group.
These hostages were taken during the October 7, 2023, attack, which killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Sullivan expressed hope that the deal could be reached by the end of the month, stating, “My goal will be to put us in a position to be able to close this deal this month.”
Meanwhile, the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in significant casualties. According to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, at least 44,805 people, predominantly civilians, have lost their lives.
These numbers have been corroborated by the United Nations as reliable. Amid these dire circumstances, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution yesterday calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Hamas authorities in Gaza reported that Israeli airstrikes killed at least 33 people, including twelve guards who were protecting aid trucks.
In response, the Israeli Defense Forces maintained that their targets were militants attempting to hijack the vehicles.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with the United Nations and aid agencies issuing urgent warnings.
UNRWA spokesperson Louise Wateridge described the conditions in Gaza as “appalling and apocalyptic” during a visit to Nuseirat in central Gaza.
In addition to its operations in Gaza, Israel also launched an attack in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah militants.
The IDF claimed that the militants’ presence in the area violated the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
