Netanyahu says Israel will return to table for ceasefire talks with Hamas
Several rounds of negotiations have faltered.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will return to the table for ceasefire talks with Hamas.
Friday’s announcement marks yet another attempt to reach a deal with the militant group that would pause Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.
Several rounds of negotiations have faltered.
Mr Netanyahu says he has spoken with Israel’s lead negotiators and authorised Israeli delegations to join talks in Qatar and Egypt over the coming days.
Hamas has previously proposed a phased process in which it would release all the remaining hostages in exchange for an end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the opening of its borders for aid and reconstruction, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including top militants serving life sentences.
Mr Netanyahu has called the demands delusional and vowed to resume Israel’s offensive after any hostage release and keep fighting until the militant group is destroyed.
Hamas is believed to be holding roughly 100 hostages, as well as the remains of about 30 people killed in the group’s October 7 attack, which triggered the war, or who died in captivity.
