Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 31, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Islamic Jihad chief says no hostage deal while Israeli troops remain in Gaza – report
Palestinian terrorists of the Islamic Jihad movement participate in an anti-Israel military parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's foundation in Gaza City, October 4, 2023. (Mahmud Hams/AFP)
The head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group reportedly says there will be no agreement for the release of hostages for as long as fighting continues in the Gaza Strip.
Ziyad al-Nakhalah says that his group will not be party to any deal while Israel Defense Forces troops remain in the enclave, according to the Al-Araby network.
Qatari mediators have reportedly told Israel that Hamas “agrees in principle” to resume negotiations for the release of further hostages taken during the October 7 atrocities, in exchange for a truce of up to a month in the Gaza Strip.
It is unclear how many hostages are held by Islamic Jihad, a terror group smaller than Hamas.
