PROSPECTS for a resumption of ceasefire talks grew by the day after the chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met the Prime Minister of Qatar and the head of the Central Intelligence Agency.
The goal is to facilitate the exchange of Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners.
CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Europe in the coming days to meet the head of Israel’s spy agency and the Prime Minister of Qatar.
Talks held in Egypt and Qatar for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza reached a deadlock two weeks ago as Israel pursued its military offensive in Rafah.
The last round of talks in Cairo saw Israel demanding Hamas release 33 living hostages — women, female soldiers, men over 50, and men who are in serious health conditions.
However, Hamas said they could only release 18 hostages and offered to return the bodies of about 15 dead hostages to reach the number demanded by Israel.
Meanwhile, Hamas official Osama Hamdan declined Israel’s intention to renew talks on the Gaza truce.
The Hamas official said that the group’s immediate requirement is for Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
After the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop its military offensive in Gaza, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the occupied Palestinian territories, called for sanctions to be imposed on Israel, for the provision of weapons to be banned, and suspension of diplomatic relations until it complies with the court’s decision.
