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Added on the 21/11/2023 15:05:15 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
"There's still a lot of work to be done. But we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and indeed essential, and we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tells reporters in Doha after being informed of the reply by Qatar. SOUNDBITE
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he still saw space to reach an agreement to bring back hostages from Gaza after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Hamas's demand for ceasefire. SOUNDBITE
A framework for the release of hostages held in Gaza is to be relayed to Hamas, Qatar's prime minister says following meetings with US, Israeli and Egyptian officials. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says "good progress" had been made during talks between the parties who were "hoping to relay this proposal to Hamas and to get them to a place where they engage positively and constructively in the process". SOUNDBITE
The United States is working to facilitate another deal on the release of hostages seized by Hamas and held in Gaza, but "imminent developments" are unlikely, the White House says. "We are hopeful about the progress but I do not expect, we should not expect any imminent developments," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby tells reporters at a press briefing. SOUNDBITE
US President Joe Biden's Middle East advisor is holding talks in the region on a new, possibly longer deal for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a pause in fighting in Gaza, the White House says. SOUNDBITE