Lebanese report: Hostage talks faltered as they moved away from Paris proposal

Talks to secure a hostage deal in Cairo this week failed because they were no longer focused around the Paris proposal agreed upon by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Israel in February, according to Palestinian sources quoted by a Lebanese newspaper.

The outline reportedly includes a three-phase humanitarian pause — with 35 to 40 Israeli hostages, including women, men over the age of 60 and those with serious medical conditions, released during the first six-week phase. Israeli soldiers and the bodies of killed hostages would be released in the second and third phases.

Al-Akhbar quotes sources as saying that the talks faltered as the conversation moved away from the second and third phases and were instead focused only on the first.

“What is proposed now does not meet the minimum demands of [Hamas] or the needs of the Gaza Strip,” a Palestinian source is quoted as saying, while reiterating Hamas calls for a full ceasefire.

“There needs to be a commitment on the part of The United States, Egypt, and Qatar, in the presence of a sustainable truce that leads to a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.”