Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in this handout picture released on December 18, 2023. Israel Defense Forces
The U.S.
said "very serious" negotiations were taking place on a new Gaza
ceasefire and release of more Israeli hostages, but prospects for a deal
remained uncertain as Hamas insisted it would not discuss anything less than a
complete end to Israel's offensive in the Palestinian enclave.