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Arab-Israeli conflicts

Israel to Send Delegation to Rome for Talks Aimed at Ending War with Hamas

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that his country would send a delegation to Rome for talks aimed at ending the war with Hamas. The talks come after Netanyahu met with US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris in Washington, and a day after he visited Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Netanyahu expressed hope that the talks would lead to a ceasefire and the release of hostages still held in Gaza.

Key Takeaways:

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to send a delegation to Rome for talks aimed at ending the war with Hamas.
  • The delegation is expected to arrive in Rome at the beginning of the week, with talks scheduled to begin on Sunday.
  • The discussions will focus on a deal to end hostilities and return hostages still held in Gaza.
  • Netanyahu attributed "some movement" on ceasefire efforts to Israel's military pressure, but said that Hamas must understand there is no daylight between Israel and the US for the talks to be successful.
  • US Vice-President Kamala Harris called for all parties to reach an agreement and said that it is time for the war to end in a way that is secure for Israel, with all hostages released and the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ended.
  • The US is sending the head of the CIA, Bill Burns, to meet representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and Israel as part of the initiative to end the war.

Statistics:

  • More than 1,200 people, mostly Israelis, were killed in the Hamas invasion of southern Israel on 7 October last year.
  • 251 people were taken hostage in the invasion, with many still held in Gaza.
  • The Hamas-run health ministry says that more than 39,000 people have been killed in Israel's military response in Gaza.
  • The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and several Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes, which they have rejected.

Sources:

  • Netanyahu's comments during a visit to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida (no date mentioned)
  • US Vice-President Kamala Harris's statement (no date mentioned)
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of plans to send a delegation to Rome for talks aimed at ending the war with Hamas (no date mentioned)
  • The Hamas-run health ministry's report on casualties in Gaza (no date mentioned)
  • The US announcement of plans to send the head of the CIA, Bill Burns, to meet representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and Israel (no date mentioned)

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