From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Israel said expecting answer from Hamas in next day or two on whether hostage talks will begin
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Israel is expecting an answer from Hamas within the next day or two regarding whether the terror group is prepared to launch negotiations on a hostage agreement, Channel 12 reports.
Israel was hoping to receive an answer by today but Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh appears to be dragging his feet. Unconfirmed reports say that he has delayed a trip to Cairo in order to discuss the talks.
Until now, the talks between the sides have been on more general principles and have not gotten into the number of Israeli hostages and Palestinian security prisoners who could be released.
While there were reports earlier this week that the sides were discussing the release of hundreds, if not thousands, of Palestinian security prisoners, Channel 12 explains that such false proposals were leaked by Israeli officials in order to prepare the public for the kind of price that Israel might have to pay and also give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the opportunity to come out against the release of thousands of prisoners and thereby appear as if he is taking a harder line.
The Times of Israel Community.