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Mossad chief David Barnea
Photo: Amir Cohen / REUTERS
Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas have been negotiating indirectly with each other about the release of the Israeli hostages and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip - for months and with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the USA. According to Israeli information, another round of negotiations on an agreement has now ended.
"As part of the talks, with useful Egyptian mediation, the mediators formulated an updated proposal for Hamas," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday. What exactly this adapted draft entails was not stated. The Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that the head of the foreign intelligence service Mossad, who leads the negotiating team, had granted more flexibility in the return of the internally displaced persons to the north of the Gaza Strip as demanded by Hamas. According to Netanyahu's office, the Israeli delegation is scheduled to return to Israel on Tuesday.
Hamas is insisting on an end to the war, an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the return of internally displaced people to the north of the coastal area. Israel has so far rejected the demands. Israel's goal is to destroy Hamas.
According to media reports, the Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday for the latest round of negotiations. Israeli media had previously reported that Israel was "disappointed" in the mediator Qatar. Negotiations had been held there before - and ultimately collapsed.
"Israel expects the mediators to take aggressive measures against Hamas to bring the negotiations to an agreement," Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday.
Progress on an agreement could lead to postponing the closure of the Arabic TV channel Al Jazeera in Israel, the Kan broadcaster reported, citing Israeli government circles.
After passing a corresponding law, Netanyahu announced this step on Monday. The law allows foreign TV channels to be closed if they are deemed to pose a risk to state security. Israel accuses the broadcaster of bias. The TV network based in the Gulf Emirate of Qatar rejects this.
Before the Gaza war broke out, Qatar was considered one of Hamas's most important financial supporters. Top representatives of the terrorist organization also live in Doha.
dop/dpa