Stalled negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages picked up steam late Thursday when the Israeli War Cabinet agreed to send a delegation to Paris for weekend talks, Israeli media reported.
White House Special Envoy Brett McGurk met Thursday in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who said the Israeli government “will expand the authority given to our hostage negotiators.”
There were signs of more flexibility on both sides after Netanyahu called back his team from talks in Cairo last week, citing “delusional” demands from Hamas.
“The initial indications we’re getting from Brett are these discussions are going well,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.
Negotiations will restart Friday and include Mossad spy agency chief David Barnea for Israel, CIA Director William Burns for the U.S.; Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani; and Abbas Kamel, head of Egyptian intelligence, the New York Times reported.
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Egypt’s Al-Ghad channel that a breakthrough might soon be possible. And Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz said he had seen initial signs of progress, but that barring a hostage deal, Israel will press its offensive into the crowded southern city of Rafah during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that begins around March 10.
A Western diplomat involved in the efforts said both sides want a pause. “What we have heard from our partners is that they are willing to give concessions,” she said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy. “Time is pressing them.”
LINK: https://news.yahoo.com/initial-signs-israel-hamas-cease-145353881.html?
