International mediators are gearing up for a new round of discussions on Thursday in a bid to halt the Israel-Hamas conflict and secure the release of many hostages. The talks are regarded as crucial to prevent a larger regional conflict. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt are scheduled to meet with an Israeli delegation in Qatar amid a rising death toll in Palestine due to the war.
Hamas has not confirmed its participation, criticizing Israel for introducing new conditions to a developing proposal backed by the US and other international actors. A potential ceasefire in Gaza is anticipated to ease tensions in the region and potentially dissuade Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah from launching retaliatory attacks on Israel following recent incidents.
The mediators have been working on a three-phase plan aimed at securing the release of hostages taken during an attack in October that triggered the conflict, in exchange for a lasting ceasefire, Israeli forces’ withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
In another development, two Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, as confirmed by the territory’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military stated that the two individuals were shot down for posing a threat to troops in Nablus and that return fire was initiated in response to being fired upon.
The slain men were identified as Wael Misha, 18, and Ahmed Khalil, 20, with no immediate claims of affiliation from militant groups. The West Bank has witnessed a surge in violence since the Gaza conflict escalated last year, resulting in over 500 Palestinian deaths in clashes with the Israeli military or stone-throwing incidents.
Meanwhile, in Australia, a fiery exchange occurred in Parliament where the opposition leader called for a halt on refugees from Gaza, prompting accusations of racism from an independent lawmaker. The opposition leader raised concerns about national security risks and refugee screening measures for those fleeing the Israel-Hamas conflict. The government has issued visitor visas to nearly 3,000 individuals while rejecting over 7,000 others since October 7, 2023.
Following the heated debate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the opposition leader’s statements, accusing him of spreading fear and division, and emphasizing the government’s confidentiality regarding national security screening procedures.
