US says it's cautiously optimistic that a deal to end fighting in Gaza is within reach
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I'm Alex Ritson, and in the early hours of Wednesday 18th December, these are our main stories. The US State Department says it's cautiously optimistic that a deal to end the fighting in Gaza is within reach. Russian politicians have vowed revenge for the assassination of a Russian general on the streets of Moscow. Ukraine said it carried out the attack.
Also in this podcast... The Constitutional Bridge. One of only four bridges spanning the Grand Canal. 25,000 people cross it every day.
The Italian city of Venice is to replace the glass steps on its famous Slippery Bridge after 14 years of almost daily falls. The US State Department says it's cautiously optimistic that a deal to end the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages is within reach. Its spokesman is Matthew Miller.
Based on the remaining issues, we should be able to get to an agreement. We should be able to bridge the disagreements between the two parties. But that is not to say that we will. Because again, there have been times before where we were close and we thought the differences were bridgeable and ultimately we didn't get a deal. As you've heard me say before, all the United States can do is push and try to come up with compromises, but we cannot dictate to either side what choice they have to make. They have to make those decisions for themselves.
All previous attempts have collapsed. A Hamas spokesman said the talks were positive and serious and a deal was possible if Israel stopped setting new conditions. A three-stage proposal is on the table. From Jerusalem, our Middle East correspondent Yoland Nell reports.
Keeping up the pressure on Israel's government, former hostages and relatives of some of the remaining 100 people being held in Gaza demonstrated in Tel Aviv again today. Diplomatic efforts have been gathering pace to end the 14-month-long war. A senior Palestinian official told the BBC that a three-phase plan was being discussed, starting with a 45-day truce during which civilians and female soldiers held captive would be released, Israeli forces would partially withdraw and displaced Gazans would be able to return to the north of the territory. Regional mediators and the US must still work out crucial details and overcome deep mistrust between the two sides. Today, Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, has commented that after a ceasefire, Israel's military would retain security control over Gaza with complete freedom of action.
In a later statement, Hamas said reaching an agreement was possible if Israel stopped setting new conditions.
Yoland Nel. So what's been the reaction on the ground to the news regarding possible ceasefire developments in Gaza? The BBC has received audio messages from both Gaza and Israel. First, Ailon Kishet from Tel Aviv, who has a cousin that is a hostage in Gaza.
These latest news, they're making me somewhat hopeful, but because of the troubled history around this subject, I can't be too hopeful because these things always fall apart. And I think it just goes to show that everyone involved must do the best so it won't fall apart right now. And it will be the last time that we have to guess if it's really true or not. I'm just praying that this is true.
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Speakers
23 identified
Alex Ritson 8 min
Lucy Williamson 3 min
Mickey Bristow 2 min
Ella Bicknell 2 min
Paul Watson 2 min
Hannah Mullane 2 min
Steve Rosenberg 2 min
Rushdie Abu-Aloof 1 min
Miranda 1 min
Yoland Nell 1 min
Ashley Aguinetti 1 min
John Morgan 1 min
Frank Gardner 1 min
Narrator 1 min
Millie Kendall 1 min
Sean Lay 1 min
Will Ross 1 min
Ryan Seacrest 1 min
Carol Cheng 1 min
Matthew Miller 1 min
Tilly
Monika Magnusson
Unidentified
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