Israel-Hamas Conflict: Qatar Reportedly Seeks Deal That Includes Release Of 50 Hostages, 3-Day Ceasefire

Qatar seeks negotiations for deal to release around 50 hostages: report

Qatar, which has a direct line of communication with both Israel and Hamas, is seeking to negotiate an agreement between the two sides that could see the release of around 50 civilian hostages being held in Gaza in exchange for a three-day ceasefire, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing an official briefed about the negotiations.

The deal, which is still under discussion, has been coordinated with the U.S. and could see Israel releasing some Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli jails, but the exact number of Palestinians to be freed is unknown. The increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza is also part of the deal, the official said.

Rocket sirens sound on both ends of Israel

Rocket sirens are sounding on both the northern and southern regions of Israel, specifically in Kiryat Shmona and Ashkelon, local media reported Wednesday.

Israeli troops found 'concrete evidence' Hamas used Al-Shifa Hospital as command node: local media

The Israeli army "saw concrete evidence that Hamas terrorists used Shifa hospital as a terrorist headquarters," The Times of Israel reported, citing an IDF official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Weapons and "terror infrastructure" were found at the hospital complex, according to the report.

The official added that the IDF will publish parts of the information it uncovered at the hospital.

Iran's supreme leader told Hamas it will not intervene in war directly: senior officials

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh earlier this month that since the Palestinian terror group did not give Iran a heads up about its Oct. 7 attack against Israel, the Iranian military will not directly intervene in the war, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing three senior Iranian and Hamas officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

While Iran will continue to provide its political and moral support for Hamas, it will not directly play into Hamas' battles against Israel, as per the report.

Khamenei also pressed Haniyeh to stop Hamas operatives from publicly calling for Iran and Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah to join the battle, a Hamas official said.

Israeli troops deliver humanitarian equipment to Al-Shifa

Israeli forces delivered "humanitarian equipment and placed it at the entrance" of Al-Shifa Hospital Wednesday, even as the raid at Gaza's largest health facility ensues, the IDF said.

Around 1,000 wanted persons arrested had Hamas ties: IDF

Around 1,000 wanted individuals who were arrested across Judea, Samaria and Beqaa since the war started were associated with Hamas, the IDF said Wednesday. Israeli authorities have arrested around 1,750 wanted persons since Oct. 7.

Israeli tanks 'inside the courtyard' of Al-Shifa: Palestinian reporter

Israeli tanks have entered the "courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital," Khader Al Za'anoun, a reporter for Palestinian news agency Wafa, told CNN Wednesday. He added that Israeli troops were inside hospital buildings conducting search and interrogation operations.

Israel allows fuel entry into Gaza: Egyptian security sources

Israel has allowed the first truck carrying fuel to enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing Wednesday, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing two Egyptian security sources. Two other trucks were waiting to enter the strip, witnesses told the outlet.

UN trucks moving into Gaza will be refueled at Rafah border crossing: Israel

Trucks from the United Nations that are transporting humanitarian aid into southern Gaza will be refueled Wednesday at the Rafah border crossing upon the Biden administration's request, Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) department said.

Hamas prepared explosives around Al-Shifa: IDF

Hamas terrorist squads were waiting for Israeli soldiers around the Al-Shifa Hospital, the IDF said Wednesday. "Before entering the hospital, our forces encountered explosives," the IDF said in a Google-translated post on X.

A fight then ensued between Israeli troops and Hamas militants wherein an unspecified number of terrorists were eliminated, the IDF added.

IDF reopens evacuation passage, temporarily suspends military activities

Israeli forces have reopened a humanitarian corridor to allow residents from northern Gaza to move toward the south. It will be open from 4 p.m. local time (5:30 a.m. ET), said Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF's spokesperson for Arab media.

Additionally, the Israeli army has implemented "a temporary tactical suspension of military activities" Wednesday between 10 a.m. local time (11:30 p.m. Tuesday ET) through 2 p.m. (3:30 a.m. Wednesday ET).

Adraee said the temporary suspension of military operations was for the evacuation of residents in the Al-Salam and Al-Nour neighborhoods.

"Please, for your safety, join those who made the right decision. Hamas has lost its control over the northern Gaza Strip and is trying to do everything it can to prevent you from moving south and protect yourselves," Adraee said in a message to Gaza residents, a Google translation shows.

2 more Israeli soldiers die in Gaza battles

Two Israeli soldiers died Tuesday night amid the fighting against Hamas in northern Gaza, the IDF announced on its tribute page for fallen soldiers.

• Capt. Yedidia Asher Lev, 26 – deputy commander in the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion
• Capt. Omri Yosef David, 27 – deputy commander of a company in the Negev Brigade's 9217^th Battalion

Over 600 Americans and dependents have left Gaza

Since the Rafah border crossing reopened earlier this month, more than 600 Americans, their family members and lawful permanent residents have exited Gaza and crossed over into Egypt, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

There are still nearly 1,000 Americans and dependents trapped in the Gaza Strip, based on the State Department's knowledge, Miller said.

'It's going to happen,' Biden says of hostage deal

"I've been talking with people involved every single day. I believe it's going to happen," U.S. President Joe Biden said of a deal to free hostages being held by Hamas.

Biden's remarks came after earlier reports that Israel and Hamas were nearing an agreement to free most Israeli women and children in captivity in Gaza.

IDF sends medical supplies, incubators to Al-Shifa Hospital amid ongoing raid

Incubators, medical supplies and baby food provided by the Israeli army has reached Al-Shifa Hospital, the IDF said Tuesday.

The news comes as the IDF said that its targeted operations "against Hamas in the Shifa Hospital is still ongoing" as of around 8:30 a.m. IST (10:00 p.m. Tuesday ET).

IDF conducting 'precise and targeted operation' at Al-Shifa Hospital

Israeli soldiers are conducting a "precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specific area in the Shifa Hospital, based on intelligence information and an operational necessity," the IDF said in a statement early Wednesday.

The IDF added that its team includes medical experts and Arabic speakers who went through "specified training" so they can prepare for the facility's "complex and sensitive environment" and to ensure that "no harm is caused to the civilians being used by Hamas as human shields."

Aside from public warnings in recent weeks about Hamas' military use of Gaza' largest medical facility, the IDF said it also informed "relevant authorities in Gaza" Tuesday that "all military activities within the hospital must cease within 12 hours." The said authorities allegedly "did not" follow through with the IDF's warning, adding that it has maintained regular communications with hospital authorities.

Finally, the IDF called on Hamas terrorists at the hospital to surrender.

Pentagon, White House say Hamas has a command center at Al-Shifa Hospital

The Pentagon has "information that Hamas and [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad uses some hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including the Al-Shifa Hospital as a way to conceal and support their military operations and hold hostages," the U.S. Defense Department's deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh said Tuesday.

"They have tunnels underneath these hospitals," she said, adding that "Hamas and PIJ members operate a command and control node from Al-Shifa Hospital." She also noted that the terrorists have weapons stored underneath the hospital and the militant groups "are prepared to respond to an Israeli military operation against that facility."

Also on Tuesday, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the White House has information "that confirms that Hamas is using that particular hospital [Al-Shifa] for a command and control mode," as per Reuters.

The Pentagon and White House's remarks seemingly confirm Israel's repeated claim that Hamas terrorists built a tunnel complex under the Al-Shifa Hospital to house militants and store weapons.