Defense Minister Yoav Gallad told the families of the hostages that “we are closer to an agreement than ever before”
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed by phone Thursday efforts to finalize a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and release hostages held by the Palestinian organization, the White House said.
The two leaders also discussed the recent response of Hamas in the proposal presented by Biden at the end of May. At the same time, they confirmed that the national security teams of their two countries will meet on July 15. The US president “welcomed the prime minister’s decision to authorize (Israeli) negotiators to talk with US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators with the goal of reaching an agreement,” the White House added.
An Israeli official told Reuters that Hamas’ response included a “very important development”, emphasizing that there is “real possibility” for an agreement. “As far as we are concerned, we can go ahead with a deal on the hostages, it depends on Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he added.
Another Israeli official confirmed that the head of the Israeli delegation to these negotiations will be the head of the Mossad, the secret service.
If the Israeli government authorizes the Mossad-led negotiating team to participate in such talks, the two sides will likely it will take several more weeks to reach an agreement, the Axios news website reported, citing a senior Israeli official.
Hamas reportedly withdrew her request for guarantees that Israel will end the war and fully withdraw from Gaza in order to agree to even the first stage of the deal, a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News.
“It is possible to bring back soldiers, women, children, the wounded, the sick, the elderly,” the official said. “And there is a provision for a return to fighting if Hamas violates the terms of the agreement. There is the basis for a good deal.”
The official did not rule out the possibility of Hamas causing problems during the talks: “It will not be easy. There is a long way to go.”
For his part, Defense Minister Yoav Gallad told the families of the hostages that “we are closer to an agreement than ever.”
Source :Skai
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