What’s happened: Yesterday President Herzog hosted an international task force focused on the issue of the hostages.
- The task force included representatives from the US, UK, Canada, Germany and Austria, and was convened by Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brig. Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch.
- At the start of the meeting, President Herzog said,: “There is a major scar on our nation. There is a major scar on the face of the earth: the issue of the hostages.” He called, “on all parties to the negotiations in Qatar to move forward as much as possible and end this huge tragedy.”
- He added, “This is something that should not be acceptable anywhere in the world, in modern day affairs, in human lives, in the international arena. The fact that you’re here on behalf of such important nations is another example of how this issue is on the top of the agenda. It is the key to the door to moving forward for a better future.”
- Foreign Minister Saar met yesterday in Abu Dhabi with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. The two men discussed regional developments and the bilateral relations between the countries.
- In the US, President-elect Trump held a press conference alongside his new envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
- Relating to the talks in Qatar, Witkoff struck an optimistic note. “I think that we’ve had some really great progress, and I’m really hopeful that by the inaugural, we’ll have some good things to announce on behalf of the president.”
Context: Efforts continue in Qatar to reach a deal, however it remains unclear if the gaps can be breached.
- Kan News revealed an internal Israel government document that states that the goal of the agreement is the release of all the Israeli hostages, civilians and soldiers, living and dead, in exchange for an agreed upon number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the restoration of a sustainable quiet that will bring about a permanent ceasefire and the Gaza Strip’s reconstruction.
- According to a Reuters report the UAE have been holding behind the scenes talks with Israel and the US to explore the formation of a provisional administration for post-war Gaza. According to that report, the parties discussed “the possibility of the UAE and the US, along with other nations, temporarily overseeing the governance, security and reconstruction of Gaza after the Israeli military withdraws and until a Palestinian administration is able to take over.”
- An Emirati official is quoted as saying, “The UAE will not participate in any plan that fails to include significant reform of the Palestinian Authority, its empowerment, and the establishment of a credible roadmap toward a Palestinian state.”
- In parallel to the diplomatic efforts the fighting in Gaza continues, with IDF forces operating in the north, centre and south of the Strip. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Halevi visited troops in Jabalya saying, “I am looking at the situation that Hamas is in. They see, every single day, what you are doing to them, and they understand that this is becoming unbearable. And I’m telling you, we won’t stop. We will bring them to the point where they understand that they must return all the hostages.”
- However inside Israel there is also criticism for the ongoing war, Channel 13 News quoted a high ranking IDF officer saying, “The ground operation has run its course. In the absence of a deal we’re going to return to the same places.”
- The cost in human lives continues to rise, three more IDF soldiers all in their 20s have been killed in Gaza in the last two days.
- Last night the Israeli Air Force carried out another air strike in Khan Yunis targeting terrorists who took part in the October 7th massacre. Arab media reported that 18 people were killed. The IDF Spokesperson’s Office said that several steps were taken before the strike to minimise the risk of civilian casualties.
- Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan held a press conference in Algeria. Referring to Trump’s threats, he said, “You don’t threaten hell to the Palestinians, they are already in hell….I don’t believe Blinken’s statements that an agreement can be reached within two weeks.”
- While Trump and his team are not formally part of the ongoing negotiations, it is understood that they have been cooperating with the outgoing Biden administration, and Witkoff has travelled to the region several times since his appointment in November.
- Amid the fighting and the talk, Israel continues to facilitate the entry of Humanitarian Aid. In the past week, COGAT oversaw over 1,000 trucks entering the Strip. This included over 900 tonnes of equipment for winter – blankets, tarps, coats, and winter clothing. 600 tonnes of hygiene products, 370 tonnes of medical equipment including medication, blood units, and plasma. In addition, medical equipment and medical supplies were coordinated to hospitals in northern Gaza. COGAT also notes, “Hundreds of trucks are currently waiting for collection and distribution on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom.”
- The UAE also continues to play an important humanitarian role. This week Israel facilitated 127 patients to leave Gaza, primarily children, along with their escorts, to receive medical treatment in the UAE.
Looking ahead: The international task force is expected to meet with representatives of the hostages family forum later today.
- US envoy Witkoff is expected to join the negotiations in Qatar later this week.
- Trump once again warned “all hell will break loose” in the region if an agreement between Israel and Hamas is not reached by his inauguration on January 20th