Regarding negotiations between Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas, including a cessation of fighting, Israeli media reported that an Israeli negotiating team is expected to depart for Qatar on the 18th, and negotiations are expected to resume from that day.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office has announced that a cabinet meeting will be held on the 17th to discuss the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and the hostage release negotiations.
In addition, leading Israeli media outlets such as Haaretz reported that after the cabinet meeting, an Israeli negotiating team is expected to depart for Qatar on the 18th.
Negotiations are expected to resume from this day.
The background to the negotiations is that Hamas presented a new proposal to the Israeli side last week.
According to Reuters, the plan Hamas has proposed so far is to release 700 to 1,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel in exchange for Hamas releasing women and elderly hostages. After that, both sides will agree on a cease-fire schedule and proceed with the release of more hostages.
However, the gap between Hamas, which ultimately calls for a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and Israel, which does not approve of this, has not been bridged, and it is unclear whether the negotiations will make any progress.
Despite this situation, attacks on the Gaza Strip continue on a daily basis, and local Palestinian media reported on the night of the 16th that at least 11 civilians were killed in an attack by Israeli forces in the central Gaza Strip.