Israel said to signal it could put Gaza City takeover on hold as prospects of renewed talks simmer

Unnamed diplomatic sources quoted by Haaretz say Israel’s political leadership could cancel or delay a plan for the military to conquer Gaza City in the name of a ceasefire and hostage release deal, should Hamas show a willingness to make significant concessions.

At the same time, the broadsheet quotes Israeli sources, also unnamed, who say there are only slim chances of the two sides managing to bridge their outstanding differences.

Anonymous Palestinian sources with knowledge of the issue are quoted telling the outlet that Hamas’s willingness to make progress in the talks rests on whether Israel cancels its Gaza City takeover plan.

The report comes weeks after talks between Israel and Hamas fell apart and while a flurry of reports signal Israel’s interest in reaching a deal.

According to Haaretz, Hamas’s chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya is in Cairo as part of efforts to revive the negotiation channel between Hamas and Egypt on reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. His travel there had previously been reported elsewhere.

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