Although Israel and Hamas have expressed optimism that progress was being made toward a deal, sticking points remain over the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
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00:00Israel and Hamas have accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts in Doha, as
00:06the two sides inch closer to a deal that could end the 14-month war in Gaza.
00:11On Wednesday, Hamas accused Israel of introducing new conditions related to the withdrawal from
00:16Gaza, while Israel's government blamed Hamas for reneging on understandings that have already
00:21been reached.
00:22Qatar's foreign ministry has said the talks were ongoing regardless.
00:26Meanwhile, in a visit to Gaza, Israel's defense chief, Israel Katz, vowed to keep holding
00:32security control over the strip after recent operations dismantled what he called terror
00:38and underground infrastructure.
00:40According to a statement, Israeli forces located a two-kilometer-long tunnel route during the
00:46operation.
00:48Black-and-white thermal video released by the military also showed various tunnels in
00:53the southern Gaza Strip being blown up.
00:56In a related development, families of hostages held by Hamas held an emergency press conference
01:02in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
01:03They called for the release of their loved ones.
01:06Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza, although only two-thirds are believed
01:12to be still alive.