Israel-Hamas War: What happened on day 123?

There has been "some movement" on a deal to secure the release of hostages by Hamas, US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday, adding that there had been a response from the militant group that he described as "a little over the top."

"Hamas has responded to the initial hostage deal proposal, but the details of that cannot be made public at this time," Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Thani said Tuesday during a public press conference in Doha with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“I would like to inform the media that we have received a reply from Hamas about the general framework of the agreement for hostages," he continued,  "The reply includes some comments, but in general, it is positive." 

Without expanding further, he said, “However, given the sensitivity of the circumstances, we will not tackle details."

“We are optimistic, and we have delivered the response to the Israeli party,” he said.

The US military said on Monday that its forces conducted a strike in self-defense against two Houthi drones in Yemen.

"US forces identified the explosive USVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," US Central Command said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Hundreds of Jerusalem residents protested in front of the UNRWA headquarters in the Ma'alot Dafna neighborhood in the city on Monday evening, calling for the closure of the organization's headquarters.

The demonstration was held with the participation of Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King, bereaved families, reservists, and dozens of right-wing organizations.

US President Joe Biden's administration said on Monday he would veto a standalone bill backed by House of Representatives Republicans that would provide aid to Israel, as it backs a broader bill providing assistance to Ukraine and Israel and providing new funds for border security.

"The Administration strongly encourages both chambers of the Congress to reject this political ploy and instead quickly send the bipartisan Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President’s desk," the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington, DC on Monday.

"Hamas must be inflicted with a complete and inexplicable defeat," Ohana told Sullivan. "This is a critical time for the future of the entire region. Iran must feel the strength of the determination of the free world."

The United Arab Emirates has allocated $5 million to support the United Nations in its humanitarian relief work in the Gaza Strip, state news agency WAM reported on Saturday.

The allocation of funds followed a visit to the UAE by chief UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag, WAM said.

France expects to receive “verifiable proof” that the over 130 hostages held in Gaza had received medications designed for them as part of a deal reached by Paris and Doha last month.

“We know that the medications effectively entered into Gaza,” a source from French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s entourage said on Monday. 

It has been almost four months since Hamas terrorists stormed Israel’s southern border and went on a murderous rampage in which they killed some 1,200 people, injured thousands of others, and kidnapped over 240 people back to the Gaza Strip. 

The scenes of burning houses destroyed neighborhoods, and bodies scattered on the ground are etched into the memories of Israelis, especially those from the south, whose communities were the hardest hit.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Saudi Arabia’s de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Monday as Hamas continued to delay its response to an initial proposal for a hostage deal that would pause the fighting in Gaza.

It was the first stop on his fifth regional trip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, in which he will also visit Egypt, Qatar, and Israel. Qatar and Egypt are mediating the deal for the release of over 130 hostages held in Gaza.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has called on rival group Hamas to join the Palestine Liberation Organization's political program.

In an interview with the United Arab Emirates Sky News Arabia on Saturday, Shtayyeh pointed out that communications between the PA and Hamas are currently carried out indirectly through Egypt and Qatar.