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Israeli Forces Retrieve Bodies of Five Hostages from Gaza, Military Says 

Israelis and hostage families watch a screening of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses Congress on a visit to the US, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas,at the so-called "Hostages Square", in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Purchase Licensing Rights
Israelis and hostage families watch a screening of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses Congress on a visit to the US, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas,at the so-called "Hostages Square", in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Purchase Licensing Rights
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Israeli Forces Retrieve Bodies of Five Hostages from Gaza, Military Says 

Israelis and hostage families watch a screening of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses Congress on a visit to the US, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas,at the so-called "Hostages Square", in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Purchase Licensing Rights
Israelis and hostage families watch a screening of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses Congress on a visit to the US, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas,at the so-called "Hostages Square", in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Purchase Licensing Rights

Israeli forces recovered on Wednesday the bodies of five hostages killed in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack and held in Gaza since, the Israeli military said. 

Maya Goren, a 56-year-old kindergarten teacher, was killed during the attack on her kibbutz, Nir Oz, according to Israeli Army Radio, one of the communities worst hit in the deadly attack in southern Israel that triggered the devastating war. 

The other four hostages were two reserve soldiers and two conscript soldiers killed in combat during the Oct. 7 attack, the military said. 

Their bodies were retrieved from the area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where Israeli forces launched new raids this week. 

The five had been listed among 120 hostages still in Gaza, about a third of whom Israel has declared dead in absentia, based on forensic findings, intelligence, interrogations of captured militants, videos and testimony of released hostages. 

In a speech to the US Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was actively engaged in intensive efforts to release the remaining hostages which he was confident would succeed. 

An Israeli delegation would participate in talks to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release - mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar - next week, an Israeli official said on Wednesday. 

Hamas wants a ceasefire agreement to end the war in Gaza, but Netanyahu says the war cannot end before Hamas is defeated. 

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Arab World

Sudanese Forces Welcome US Initiative to Stop War

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)
 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)
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Sudanese Forces Welcome US Initiative to Stop War

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)
 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)

Sudanese political and civil forces welcomed on Wednesday the new US initiative that invited the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to participate in ceasefire talks next August 14.
The forces considered the move as an extension of the US administration's ongoing efforts to end the war in Sudan, but said its success depends on the pressure that Washington will exert on the warring parties.
RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo said on Wednesday morning that the paramilitary group will participate in the talks.
“I welcome the invitation announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and I declare our participation in the upcoming ceasefire talks on August 14, 2024, in Switzerland,” Hemedti wrote on X.
So far, there has been no official comment from the Sudanese Armed Forces on the invitation.
Hemedti said, “I appreciate the efforts exerted by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland in organizing these crucial talks.”
He added, “We share with the international community the goal of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire across the country, facilitating humanitarian access to all those in need, and developing a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the implementation of any agreement reached.”
The Foreign Policy magazine quoted earlier five current and former officials familiar with the matter as affirming that the Biden administration is launching a new initiative to end the war in Sudan—one of the world's deadliest conflicts—with fresh peace talks following months of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
The talks will be led by Blinken and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations. They will be co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
According to Blinken, the talks will not address “broader political issues.” He said they aim “to achieve a nationwide cessation of violence, ensure humanitarian access for all those in need, and establish a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to oversee the implementation of any agreement.”
Sudan's warring parties were in Switzerland between July 10 and 20 for UN-led talks aimed at brokering possible local ceasefires to facilitate aid and protect civilians.
But the talks failed to reach a consensus on the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians.
Meanwhile, the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces “Taqaddum” welcomed on Wednesday the US invitation, and expressed hope that the initiative would result in an “urgent cessation of fighting, through serious engagement, and full commitment from all parties.”
Taqaddum spokesperson Bakri Al-Jack told Asharq Al-Awsat that the initiative is part of the mission of US envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, who has initiated talks with regional sides to solve the Sudanese crisis.
Al-Jack affirmed that any initiative that aims to accelerate the cessation of the war should be supported by peace-seekers in Sudan and the region.
He said Perriollo is insistently calling for the involvement of Egypt and the UAE in the talks, given the direct relationship of each side to the warring parties.
“The envoy has directed his efforts to coordinate and integrate the initiatives proposed in the Jeddah Platform, the African Union, and IGAD, and build on the Egyptian and Ethiopian efforts made in the past few days to solve the Sudanese file,” the spokesperson said.