Israel said readying for second Paris summit aimed at reaching hostage deal

Jonathan Dekel-Chen (left), father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, Rubi Chen (middle), father of Itay Chen, and Ronen Neutra, father of Omer Neutra, speak to reporters after a meeting with US President Joe Biden and the families of Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks in Israel, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Jonathan Dekel-Chen (left), father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, Rubi Chen (middle), father of Itay Chen, and Ronen Neutra, father of Omer Neutra, speak to reporters after a meeting with US President Joe Biden and the families of Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks in Israel, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Israel is reportedly gearing up to attend another high-level summit in Paris on Friday aimed at securing a long-elusive hostage deal.

Like the first such summit in Paris late last month, this one would be attended by Mossad chief David Barnea, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and CIA chief Bill Burns, Channel 12 says.

Before confirming its attendance, though, Israel is waiting to see more progress in the ongoing talks Egypt and Hamas are holding in Cairo.

War cabinet minister Benny Gantz said earlier tonight that there are early signs of progress on the hostage front.

In recent weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed what he calls Hamas’s “delusional” demands, ones unrelated to the Gaza conflict and that have been called “over the top” by US President Joe Biden as well.

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