Gaza truce.. Washington calls for speeding up the conclusion of an agreement

The United States called on Tuesday for speeding up and showing flexibility in order to conclude a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after the bodies of six hostages were found. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters: "There are still dozens of hostages in Gaza waiting for an agreement to return them to their homes, it is time to conclude this agreement." He stressed that "the Israeli people cannot wait any longer, while the Palestinian people, who are also suffering the terrible repercussions of this war, cannot wait any longer, and the world cannot wait any longer." He pointed out that "in the coming days, the United States will continue to communicate with its partners in the region with the aim of reaching a final agreement," referring to Qatar and Egypt, which have been leading mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas with Washington for months. The mediating countries are seeking to reach a ceasefire in the Strip and exchange Israeli hostages and Pal estinian prisoners in Israel. With the exception of a week-long truce in late November, no understanding has been reached as both sides in the conflict stick to their demands. Source: National Iraqi News Agency