US and Arab mediators have made progress in their efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but no deal has been reached yet. The Israeli military carried out strikes across the enclave on Thursday, killing at least 17 people. The talks are being led by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, who are pushing for a deal to halt fighting and free remaining hostages held by Hamas before President Joe Biden leaves office. A Palestinian official close to the mediation effort said that while there have been breakthroughs in narrowing existing gaps, no agreement has been reached yet. The two sides have been at an impasse over issues including Israel's refusal to end the war until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are free, and Hamas' demand for Israel to withdraw its troops from Gaza before releasing the hostages. The conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with more than 46,000 people killed and most of the territory's 2.1 million people displaced multiple times.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/us-arab-mediators-make-some-progress-in-gaza-peace-talks-no-deal-yet-sources-sayQatari capital Doha is mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas with Egypt and the US. Witkoff, a representative, expressed hope for progress by the time Trump takes office, warning that failure to release hostages would lead to chaos in the Middle East. The conflict has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, and displaced nearly all of Gaza's population, leaving much of its territory in ruins.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/israel-hamas-ceasefire-trump-envoy-heads-to-qatar-says-well-have-some-good-things-to-announce-13851081.htmlMediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the US have been engaged in talks between Israel and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza, but progress has been slow. The negotiations, which resumed in Doha, have been ongoing for months with no resolution in sight. Despite previous optimism that momentum was returning to the talks following Donald Trump's election victory, the process has stalled due to issues such as new conditions set by Israel and obstacles raised by Hamas.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/mediator-qatar-confirms-technical-meetings-on-gaza-truce-ongoing/article69073848.eceIsrael and Hamas are inching towards a ceasefire deal that could end the 15-month war in Gaza and bring home dozens of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The negotiations have been ongoing, with both sides under pressure from outgoing US President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump to reach an agreement before January 20th. However, several hurdles remain, including disagreements over the names of hostages to be released in a first phase, with Israel seeking assurances that they are alive and Hamas unsure who is alive or dead. The deal would include a halt in fighting, release of Palestinian prisoners, and surge in aid to Gaza, followed by the release of remaining hostages, an end to the war, and talks on reconstruction and governance of Gaza.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/world/hurdles-remain/HGXKITMOTFHSHPMQMIKZLGHKC4/Talks aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas are ongoing, with technical meetings taking place between lower-level officials. Mediators Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been engaged in months of talks that have failed to end the devastating conflict. The technical meetings are being held in Doha, where indirect negotiations resumed last week after a previous round ended in December due to disagreements over conditions for a deal.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/mediator-qatar-confirms-technical-meetings-on-gaza-truce-ongoingUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed hope that US President-elect Donald Trump will help bring an end to the war in Ukraine, but also warned that a quick peace deal could come at a high price. In an interview with US podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelenskiy said that Russia would escalate its aggression in Europe if the US were to withdraw from the NATO military alliance. He emphasized the need for security guarantees from the US and other European countries to prevent Russian aggression, and stated that he believed a ceasefire without such guarantees would only give Russia time to rearm for another attack. Zelenskiy also expressed concerns about the potential consequences of a US withdrawal from NATO, saying that it would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin in Europe. He called on Trump to provide security guarantees and emphasized the need for a "peace through strength" approach to ending the conflict.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40341248/zelenskiy-says-kyiv-security-guarantees-will-only-work-if-us-provides-themA delegation led by the KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry secured a ceasefire between Shia and Sunni communities in the region of Kurram, Pakistan. The agreement, reached after 50 rounds of discussions, ensures the continuation of previous agreements and outlines measures to maintain peace and stability. Key provisions include the return of displaced individuals to their lands with assistance from a subcommittee, mediation of disputes by local peace committees, and swift action against those disrupting peace.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1268376-a-ceasefire-in-a-land-of-conflictA peace agreement has been reached in the region, which includes several key provisions aimed at ending the current conflict and preventing future sectarian-tribal conflicts. According to the agreement, all parties must surrender their heavy weapons to the government, construction of new bunkers is prohibited, and existing ones must be demolished within a month. The 2008 Murree Agreement will be implemented in full to resettle families displaced by the violence. Security measures include securing travel routes, deploying additional security personnel, and prohibiting assistance to terrorists. The agreement also establishes a peace committee to mediate conflicts between villages.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1268000-peace-in-kurramThe controversy surrounding the extradition of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created a tense situation on the streets. The call to do away with the 1972 Constitution, which was made by some leaders, was met with opposition from prominent figures in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who described it as "fascist". Meanwhile, General Waker-uz-Zaman, the Army chief, has attempted to calm down anti-India rhetoric and emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive relationship between the two countries. He stated that both nations depend on each other for security needs, economic activities, and medical requirements, and that Bangladesh expects India to stop border killings and provide its "fair share" of water. General Waker-uz-Zaman also expressed support for the interim government led by Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus, but emphasized that the restoration of institutions in the country would depend on a politically empowered government.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bangladesh-army-chief-calls-for-national-consensus-political-government-tones-down-anti-india-rhetoric/article69051142.ece