Talks Continue On Ceasefire Deal As West Bank Op Raises Tensions

Reuters confirming reports from 27 Aug that Israeli, Qatari, US and Egyptian negotiators are in the Qatari capital, Doha, today (28 Aug) at a 'technical/working level' looking to reach an agreement on what are seen as the final gaps in a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal with Hamas. The talks come a day after Israeli forces rescued a hostage from a Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza.

• Axios reports that "Israeli officials say they think the successful operation will put pressure on Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to agree to a hostage-release and ceasefire deal." However, it remains to be seen how the rescue of one hostage might apply such pressure. Hamas still holds 108 Israeli hostages.
• While the talks are being posited as resolving final snags, the launch a major Israeli military operation into the West Bank could risk progress.
• Israel has said it is carrying out 'counterterrorism operations', with several refugee camps and Palestinian cities hit by drone strikes or under attack from tanks and bulldozers. The BBC reports "Local journalists are saying they haven't seen anything of this scope and scale in the West Bank since the days of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, two decades ago."
• While the West Bank is controlled by Hamas' bitter rival, Fatah, a broadening of Israeli military action against the Palestinian territories could see a regional backlash. Only hours ago, Iran indicated to Qatar its backing of any ceasefire deal. It remains to be seen whether the West Bank operation jeopardises this stance.