Israel has determined to ship a delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official mentioned, reviving hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations to finish the just about 21-month struggle.
Palestinian group Hamas mentioned on Friday (Jul 4) it had responded to a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal in a “optimistic spirit”, just a few days after US President Donald Trump mentioned Israel had agreed “to the mandatory circumstances to finalise” a 60-day truce.
The Israeli negotiation delegation will fly to Qatar on Sunday, the Israeli official, who declined to be named as a result of sensitivity of the matter, advised Reuters.
However in an indication of the potential challenges nonetheless going through the 2 sides, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas mentioned issues remained over humanitarian help, passage by means of the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt and readability over a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is because of meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has but to touch upon Trump’s announcement, and of their public statements Hamas and Israel stay far aside.
Netanyahu has repeatedly mentioned Hamas have to be disarmed, a place the militant group, which is regarded as holding 20 dwelling hostages, has to date refused to debate.
