Potential temporary truce likely as Israel and Hamas agree on humanitarian pause

In the latest diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has expressed the country's willingness to negotiate a new temporary truce with Hamas.

Herzog announced the potential for a humanitarian pause during a gathering of ambassadors on Tuesday, emphasizing Israel's readiness to facilitate the release of captives held by the Palestinian group.

The international community has been increasing pressure on Israel to halt its assault on Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. A previous agreement between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, resulted in a week-long truce in November.

During this period, Hamas released 86 women and children in exchange for 240 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli jails, along with the release of 24 foreign nationals.

Recent talks held in Poland involved Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Mossad Director David Barnea, and CIA Director Bill Burns. The discussions aimed to explore the possibility of a new deal that could secure the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, coupled with a humanitarian pause in the fighting.

Hamas, however, issued a statement on Tuesday rejecting any negotiations related to prisoner exchanges under what they described as the "continuing Israeli genocidal war." Despite this, the group expressed openness to initiatives contributing to "ending the aggression" and facilitating the entry of aid to alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people.

The statements from both Herzog and Hamas suggest some progress toward a potential truce, with speculation about whether it will be a temporary humanitarian pause or a comprehensive ceasefire. The conflict has resulted in significant destruction in northern Gaza, leading to mass displacement of the population to the southern part of the territory, where crowded shelters and tent camps have emerged.

The civilian death toll in Gaza has prompted international calls for Israel to scale back its offensive. France, the United Kingdom, and Germany joined the chorus for a ceasefire, while U.S. President Joe Biden characterized the bombing as "indiscriminate." The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution later on Tuesday, urging a halt to the ongoing fighting.

Amidst these developments, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, referred to the war in Gaza as a "moral failure" of the international community. She called on both Israel and Hamas to reach a new truce, expressing concern about the prolonged suffering and its impact on future generations in Gaza.