Hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza have grown as Israel agrees to restart negotiations. This development comes after Hamas presented a revised proposal on the terms of a potential deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed US President Joe Biden on Thursday of his decision to send a delegation, led by the head of the Mossad intelligence agency, to resume the stalled talks.
An anonymous source within Israel's negotiating team indicated that there is a real chance of reaching an agreement following Hamas's revised proposal, which Israel received on Wednesday. "The proposal put forward by Hamas includes a very significant breakthrough," the source stated, without disclosing further details.
This response from Israel marks a departure from past instances during the nearly nine-month-old war in Gaza, when Israel deemed the conditions set by Hamas unacceptable. The renewed negotiations signal a potential shift towards resolving the ongoing conflict and achieving a ceasefire.
President Joe Biden has welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to resume negotiations with Hamas. The White House stated that Biden and Netanyahu discussed the response from Hamas regarding the possible terms of a deal, and Biden expressed support for Netanyahu's efforts to finalize the agreement.
An anonymous source in the Israeli negotiating team mentioned, "There's a deal with a real chance of implementation," while also warning that "political considerations" could still derail the agreement. Some far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition have threatened to leave the government if the war ends before Hamas is fully defeated, which could jeopardize Netanyahu's premiership.
During a cabinet meeting on Thursday evening, Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right coalition partner, criticized top security and defence officials for deciding to resume talks without his consultation, as reported by Israel's Channel 7 News.
The current negotiations are based on a proposal made public by Biden at the end of May, which includes the release of approximately 120 hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire. The plan outlines the gradual release of hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces in two phases, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. A third phase involves the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of the remains of deceased hostages.
Egypt and Qatar have mediated previous efforts to end the Gaza conflict, with talks held in both countries.
In recent fighting, Israeli tanks advanced into the Al-Nasser neighbourhood in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, targeting the remaining Hamas battalions. An Israeli air strike killed five Palestinians, including three children, in Jabalia refugee camp, according to Gaza medics. Additionally, five Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.
