US Envoys Believe Ceasefire In Gaza Will Be Agreed Amid Israel's Repeated Onslaught

Al-Shifa Gaza Hospital After Being Attacked By Israel/UnFPA

JAKARTA - United States (US) national security adviser Jake Sullivan believes an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages will soon be reached.

Israel has signaled it is ready, while Hamas is said to have responded to negotiations.

"This may not happen but I believe this could happen if there is political will from both sides," Sullivan said after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Thursday, December 12.

Amid attempts to negotiate a ceasefire until the release of hostages, Israel continued to attack through airstrikes.

Israel killed 13 Palestinians in two airstrikes on Thursday, December 12.

According to Gaza and Hamas medics the victims of the attack were part of forces protecting humanitarian aid trucks, but the Israeli military said they were Hamas militants trying to hijack the aid.

Many of those killed in attacks on Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza have ties to Hamas, doctors and Palestinians said.

The 13 people were among 36 Palestinians killed in a separate Israeli attack on Thursday, medics said.

The Israeli military said the two airstrikes aimed at ensuring safe deliveries of humanitarian aid and accused Hamas members of the plan to prevent the aid from reaching Gazan civilians who needed it.

The statement said Hamas members aimed to hijack the aid to support continued terrorist activity.

Armed gangs repeatedly hijacked aid trucks after they entered Gaza.

Hamas also formed a task force to confront them. Hamas-led troops have killed dozens of members of the gang in recent months.

Palestinian news agency WAFA initially reported those killed in the two airstrikes were guarding the aid truck.