Israel signals progress in Gaza truce talks
JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) – Israeli leaders planned to convene on Saturday to hear of possible progress in mediated negotiations on a new Gaza truce to recover hostages held by Hamas, but Palestinians saw little change in polarized positions almost five months into the war.
Israeli delegates met on Friday in Paris with Qatari,
Egyptian and US mediators who helped put together the lone ceasefire so far, in November, under which scores of Hamas’ captives went free in return for a Palestinian prisoner release.
Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said the delegates, who flew back early on Saturday, would brief the war Cabinet in an evening meeting after the Jewish Sabbath ends.
Scheduling the briefing “shows that they feel they did not come back empty-handed,” he told Israel’s Channel 12 TV. “From the tone of what I have been hearing in recent hours, it will be possible to make progress.”
Hanegbi did not give further details, but appeared to nod when asked if progress could be made in time for the Muslim fast month of Ramadan, which begins on or around March 10. In past wars, Ramadan was seen as propitious for ceasefire efforts.
There was no immediate comment from Qatari, Egyptian or US officials.
The hostage crisis has riveted Israelis reeling from the surprise Oct. 7 cross-border Hamas rampage in which 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage, according to Israel’s tally.
On Saturday, thousands of people held a Tel Aviv vigil for the hostages, a short distance from an anti-government protest where police reported five arrests for disorderly conduct.
Hamas has previously conditioned freeing the 130 hostages it still holds on Israel freeing thousands of jailed.