From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Hamas spokesman says terror group ‘dealing positively’ with efforts to close hostage-truce deal
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A Hamas spokesman says the terror group is “dealing positively” with Egyptian and Qatari efforts to close a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza, according to London-based news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
“These discussions and ideas serve the national issues of our people, who are being subjected to the ugliest forms of genocide by the Israeli occupation, which continues to practice a policy of evasion and procrastination,” Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha is quoted as saying.
Israel said last night that it had received Hamas’s response to the latest truce-hostage deal outline and would evaluate the document before replying.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene a meeting of the security cabinet later today to discuss the proposals from Hamas, along with consultations with the Israeli negotiating team.
More than six months of negotiations carried out by mediators including the US, Qatar and Egypt have failed to advance toward a deal that would see the release of the 116 hostages kidnapped on October 7 who are believed to remain captive in Gaza, in exchange for a truce or ceasefire in fighting in Gaza, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners.
The Times of Israel Community.