US: ‘Gaza Hostage Deal Near’ As Fighting Continues
By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM/GAZA (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday that he believes a deal “is near” to free hundreds of Israeli and other hostages held by Hamas in Gaza although deadly clashes continued, including around a hospital.
Biden discussed the life-and-death situation of the hostages taken from Israel only briefly while participating in the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon at the White House.
When asked whether an agreement was near, he answered: “I believe so, but I’m not prepared to talk to –” Biden was then cut off by a reporter, who pressed him: “You believe so?”
“Yes,” Biden replied. The president then crossed his fingers.
At another event, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby made clear that an agreement to release hostages taken during Hamas’s attacks in Israel is “closer than ever before.” He added, “We’re hopeful,” but acknowledged “there’s still work to be done.”
About 240 people were kidnapped in the October 7 Hamas attacks, during which 1,200 Israelis were killed, Israeli officials said.
Hopes the kidnapped persons would be released rose Monday after the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) made clear its head would meet Hamas as clashes intensified.
PREMATURE BABIES
The ICRC has helped facilitate previous deals, including assisting a group of 28 premature babies crossing into Egypt after being evacuated from Gaza’s largest hospital.
Twelve babies among those taken from the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City were flown to the Egyptian capital Cairo for more treatment, authorities said Monday.
Three others were transferred to an Emirati-run hospital in Rafah in southern Gaza, the Red Crescent said.
However than 250 critically ill or wounded patients remained stranded at the Al-Shifa compound, which “Israeli forces stormed” days ago, according to Palestinian officials.
As the standoff continued, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claimed that an Israeli air strike on a different hospital killed at least 12 people, but it wasn’t clear whether fighters were among them.
The attack was reported as Israeli forces battled militants around the Indonesian Hospital where Palestinian sources say thousands of patients and displaced people have been sheltering for weeks.
A medical worker inside the facility and the Health Ministry said a shell struck the second floor of the Indonesian Hospital, killing 12 people. Both blamed Israel, which denied shelling the facility, saying its troops returned fire on militants who targeted them from inside the 3.5-acre (1.4 hectare) compound.
COMING UNDER FIRE
Israel said its troops came under fire “from within” the medical facility and that it “directly targeted the specific source of enemy fire.”
The military stressed it “did not fire shells toward the hospital.”
Despite the fighting health officials managed to evacuate some of the wounded, after Israeli forces said their battle is not against innocent civilians and helped provide corridors in several parts of Gaza.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 13,300 people have been killed in the territory since Israel launched retaliatory strikes after Hamas carried out the worst recorded atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah.
The Hamas figures have been difficult to verify independently in an area with virtually no press freedom.
Israel has been plunged into mourning after Hamas fighters crossed the border on October 7, now known as “Black Sabbath”, to kill 1,200 Israelis and others, including women, babies, and toddlers, while taking many hostages.
New evidence has also emerged of horrific sexual crimes against women, with some reportedly being abused by several fighters before being killed in different ways.
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