Arab diplomat confirms Egyptian mediators held talks with Hamas on reviving hostage negotiations

Egyptian mediators held an opening round of talks with Hamas in Cairo on Tuesday aimed at reviving hostage negotiations that blew up on July 24, an Arab diplomat confirms to The Times of Israel, adding that talks will continue on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s discussions were largely preliminary and did not delve into specific details of the framework that the sides will try to advance.

Despite assertions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel is no longer interested in a partial deal, the Arab diplomat says that a similar framework to the one previously discussed will likely be what the mediators try to advance — a 60-day truce that subsequently turns into a permanent ceasefire once the sides agree on the exact terms.

The diplomat says that the mediators would like to broker a comprehensive deal that immediately ends the war and secures the release of all 50 of the remaining hostages at once, but that will be more difficult to do in a short time period, as Israel is demanding that Hamas completely surrender by giving up its control of Gaza along with its weapons.