00:00 Raids have intensified across parts of the West Bank, including here in Bethlehem.
00:04 The sounds of explosions and gunfire are now heard nightly across the West Bank
00:10 in what Israeli officials say is part of their counter-terrorism operations.
00:15 They are occurring a lot more often since October 7th.
00:19 They are intensifying and the frequency is increasing.
00:22 And with them comes a number of arrests.
00:25 Thousands of arrests have occurred since October.
00:28 And Palestinian authorities say that there have been nearly 200 deaths in the West Bank since October 7th.
00:35 Now even before this, it was already the deadliest year on record for Palestinian deaths in the West Bank,
00:42 reaching around 400.
00:44 The violence in this area, locals tell me, is getting worse.
00:48 Many are afraid to leave their homes, particularly when night falls.
00:52 They're scared of violence reaching their streets.
00:55 Some have told me they have now even left the area of the West Bank indefinitely,
01:00 moving to places like Jordan, because they say they fear that a new front in Israel's war could open up here.
01:06 Now when it comes to hostages, the Israel Prime Minister has alluded to some movement on that.
01:12 He was scarce on the details of negotiations of releasing hostages,
01:18 but he says he may be able to come up with a deal with Hamas.
01:21 He did confirm that negotiations are taking place with the United States, Egypt and Qatar as well.
01:28 Qatar has been a major player in this.
01:31 Qatar has hosted the headquarters of the political wing of Hamas for decades.
01:38 So they have been crucial in these negotiations of releasing hostages,
01:42 and they have been successful in the past.
01:44 We saw four hostages released by Hamas from Gaza last month.
01:49 But that was before the Israeli invasion.
01:52 Qatar has previously warned that a ground invasion in Gaza would complicate the release of hostages from Gaza.
01:59 Now, Israel's Prime Minister says though that the ground invasion in Gaza
02:05 is what has prompted a push forward in the negotiations of releasing hostages.
02:11 However, there are reports now that Hamas says that they will suspend any talks or deals
02:17 on releasing hostages from Gaza considering the constant bombardments of hospitals in Gaza,
02:22 particularly Al Shifa Hospital.
02:25 Now, while all of this is going on, of course,
02:27 the families of the hostages have been protesting across parts of Israel.
02:32 And some of them are saying that the constant bombardments of the Gaza Strip
02:37 is hindering the survival of their loved ones.
