By Steve Holland
WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) – Israel and Hamas haven’t but reached a deal on a brief ceasefire, a White Home spokesperson stated on Saturday evening.
The U.S. is constant to work to get a deal between the 2 sides, the spokesperson stated. A second U.S. official confirmed no deal had been reached.
The Washington Put up reported earlier on Saturday evening {that a} Qatari-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas had been reached for a five-day ceasefire in alternate for 50 or extra hostages.
“No deal but however we proceed to work onerous to get a deal,” Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White Home’s Nationwide Safety Council, stated in an announcement.
Israel vowed to destroy Hamas after the militant group’s Oct. 7 rampage into Israel through which its fighters killed 1,200 folks and took 240 hostages, in keeping with Israeli tallies.
Because the battle entered its seventh week, authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip raised their demise toll to 12,300, together with 5,000 youngsters.
Israel stated that it was making ready to broaden its offensive towards Hamas militants to southern Gaza after air strikes killed dozens of Palestinians, together with civilians reported to be sheltering at two colleges.
(Reporting by Steve Holland in Wilmington, DE; Writing by Moira Warburton in Washington; Modifying by Tom Hogue and Kim Coghill)