Hope rises for new Gaza ceasefire talks as Israel scales back demands

Source: Brisbane Times

Jerusalem: Israeli negotiators, offering a hint of hope for negotiations over a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, have reduced the number of hostages they want Hamas to release during the first phase of a truce, three Israeli officials said Monday.

For weeks, ceasefire talks have been at a standstill. Now, with the new proposal in hand, a mid-ranking delegation from Israel was planning to fly to Cairo on Tuesday to resume them -- but only if Hamas agrees to attend, according to two of the officials. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue.

Hamas did not respond to a request for comment about whether it would send representatives to Cairo. A senior Hamas official said on social media Monday that the group was studying a new Israeli proposal.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday with Arab diplomats, said the onus was now on Hamas.