Israel-Hamas LIVE: Terror group claims enemies are ‘close to reaching truce deal’ as IDF units close in around another hospital

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has issued a statement warning against the hostage deal that is reportedly set to take place.

‘I’m very concerned because there is talk of some deal… we are being kept out [of the details], and we’re not being told the truth,’ the far-right hardliner said, according to the Times of Israel.

‘The rumors are that Israel is again going to make a major mistake in similar vein to the [2011] Shalit deal.’

He expressed his concerns that ‘a deal might bring disaster’, citing the possibility of releasing Palestinian protesters and allowing fuel into Gaza.

Israel has recalled its ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotserkovsky, back to Jerusalem ‘for consultations’ ahead of a parliamentary vote in the African country to decide the fate of the Israeli embassy today.

‘Following the latest South African statements, the Ambassador of Israel to Pretoria has been recalled to Jerusalem for consultations,’ Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs posted late last night on X, formerly Twitter.

This came ahead of a vote in South Africa’s parliament on a motion to shut down the Israeli embassy and cut all ties with Israel until a cease-fire is implemented.

The motion tabled by the leftist opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters has the backing of the ruling African National Congress and other smaller parties.

• The two countries’ diplomatic relations have recently witnessed a rise in tensions over the Israeli war on Gaza.
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa previously said his country believes Israel is committing war crimes and genocide in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed.
• South Africa announced last week that it had referred what it called Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza to the International Criminal Court for an investigation.
• Its cabinet called on the ICC Monday to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Below, pro-Palestinian supporters are seen demonstrating outside the entrance to the Israeli embassy in South Africa.

Israeli troops battled Palestinian militants in a dense, urban refugee camp on Tuesday as the army expanded operations across northern Gaza.

In its daily update on the conflict on Monday, the US-based Institute for the Study of War said Israeli forced had advanced to the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya.

The hospital borders the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp. The ISW said the IDF clashed with Palestinian terrorists on the camp’s western border.

Clashes were also reported in the middle of the Gaza strip, where the think tank said ‘Palestinian militia fighters attacked the IDF behind the Israeli forward line of advance in the Zaytoun area.’ It said this was consistent with clearing operations.

The organisation also reported fighting in the West Bank, where it said Palestinian fighters clashed with Israeli forces in eight places.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, has said that the reported number of children in Gaza has risen past 5,000.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she called for the conflict to end.

Russell visited the Gaza Strip last week, saying: ‘The parties to the conflict are committing grave violations against children; these include killing, maiming, abductions, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access – all of which UNICEF condemns.’

More than 13,000 people have since been killed in Israel’s aerial bombardment and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry says.

Yesterday, we brought you the news that 28 premature babies were evacuated from Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital.

The tiny newborns, with bright blue woolly hats placed on their small heads, were carefully placed on stretchers before being put in an ambulance heading away from the bombs and carnage of Gaza.

You can read the story below:

The IDF have released footage on social media of Israeli soldiers advancing through Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp.

The Israeli military said its Division 162 – also known as the Steel Formation – ‘completed the encirclement of Jabalia tonight’.

Before the war, Jabalia had a population of more than 170,000. It has been the target of multiple Israeli air strikes since the outbreak of the conflict.

In Scotland, First Minister Humza Yousaf will lead a debate on a ceasefire in Gaza today, amid mounting pressure in the UK on officials over the war.

Mr Yousaf tabled a motion on Monday which will be debated in Holyrood, calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in the conflict.

It will also condemn the ‘barbaric and unjustifiable’ Hamas attacks of October 7 and demand the release of all hostages taken.

Here is our main story this morning, that brings you the news that Hamas has claimed it is close to agreeing a truce with Israel.

Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement issued this morning that the terror gorup has delivered its response to Qatari mediators.

Qatar is understood to be working on the agreement.

Click the link below to read the full report:

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s liveblog covering the 45th day of the on-going war between Israel and Hamas.

The war was sparked on October 7 when Hamas gunmen killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in shocking cross-border raids into Israel.

Since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says more than 13,000 people have been killed inside Gaza by Israel’s relentless bombardment and siege.

Amid reports that the two enemies are nearing a truce agreement that could see hostages released, and as IDF troops close in around another hospital, here’s what you need to know about the conflict on November 21, 2023:

• Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this morning that a truce agreement with Israel was in sight, raising hopes that dozens of people taken hostage in the October 7 attacks could be released.
• There was no immediate response from Israel on the status of negotiation efforts to secure the release of the estimated 240 hostages seized on Oct. 7.
• Speaking to AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, sources from Hamas and Islamic Jihad – which also participated in the attacks – confirmed that their groups had agreed to the terms of a truce deal.
• The tentative deal includes a five-day truce, comprised of a ceasefire on the ground and limits to Israeli air operations over southern Gaza.
• Under the agreement, between 50 and 100 Israeli civilian and foreign hostages would be released, but no military personnel. In exchange, some 300 Palestinians would be released from Israeli jails.
• In Gaza, medics and patients were again caught on the front line on Tuesday, as Israel expanded its operation across the north of the territory.
• Officials in the Hamas-run health ministry said Israel struck the Indonesian Hospital on Monday, killing 12 people, before moving in ground forces.
• The hospital is said to be surrounded by IDF tanks and other heavy armour.
• Twenty-eight premature babies were evacuated from Al-Shifa to Egypt on Monday. (Click here to read MailOnline’s full story).
• Israel says Hamas uses medical facilities to hide fighters and as the base for operations, making them legitimate military objectives – while insisting it does everything possible to limit harm to civilians.
• International criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war has grown in recent weeks, with protests erupting across the world, international agencies laying allegations of war crimes, and some governments breaking diplomatic ties.
• The World Health Organisation said it was ‘appalled’ by Monday’s strike on the Indonesian Hospital and reported it was just one of 164 documented attacks on health facilities and workers since the war began.

Update includes reporting from AFP news agency