Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Joe Biden on Thursday (4) that he had decided to send a delegation to resume negotiations on a hostage release deal with Hamas, the governments of both countries said.
In a phone call between the two leaders, Netanyahu reinforced his position that Israel would only end the war in the Gaza Strip when all its objectives were achieved, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the head of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, would lead the country’s delegation to the talks, although that was not immediately confirmed.
Netanyahu is due to hold consultations with his negotiating team on Thursday and then discuss hostage release negotiations with his security cabinet.
The White House noted that the two leaders discussed the recent response received from Hamas.
“The President welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to authorize his negotiators to engage with mediators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt in an effort to close the deal,” they wrote in a statement.
It was not clear where the Israeli delegation would go to resume negotiations.
Hamas Response
Previous efforts to end the Gaza conflict have been mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with negotiations held in both countries.
Israel received Hamas’ response on Wednesday (3) on a proposal made public at the end of May by Biden, which would include the release of around 120 hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
A Palestinian official close to the mediation effort told Reuters that Hamas had shown flexibility on some clauses that would allow a deal to be reached if Israel also approved.
Two Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The armed group has said any deal must end the war and bring about a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas is eradicated.
The plan involves the gradual release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces in the first two phases, in addition to the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The third phase involves the reconstruction of war-torn territory and the return of the remains of deceased hostages.
Source: CNN Brasil
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