Israeli official aims to lower expectations amid US optimism post-Doha summit

A senior Israeli official tells the Kan public broadcaster that progress was indeed made in Doha on several controversial aspects of the hostage deal being negotiated.

However, the official notes that this progress was only between Israel and the mediators.

It is still unclear how Hamas will respond to these new arrangements.

A lower-level Israeli negotiating team will remain in Doha over the weekend for continued talks with mediators, and a separate lower-level team will travel to Cairo tomorrow for similar meetings. Qatar and Egypt have sometimes divided the negotiations to have the former focus on the hostage aspects and the latter focus on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from key areas in and around Gaza, such as the Netzarim and Philadelphi Corridors along with the Rafah Crossing.

The lower-level delegations will aim to close remaining gaps before the top negotiators reconvene at the end of next week in Cairo to try and finalize a deal.