Official says ‘no change’ to Israel’s support for hostage deal presented by Biden

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

After reports emerge that the White House is working on new language for parts of the proposed hostage and ceasefire deal in an effort to reach an agreement, Israel indicates its displeasure with any changes to the terms laid out by US President Joe Biden on May 31.

“Israel is committed to the terms of the proposal that [US] President Biden endorsed,” says an Israeli official. “There is no change at all in its position.”

“As of now, Israel has not received a response from Hamas to this offer,” the official continues.

Citing three sources with direct knowledge of the talks, the Axios news site earlier reported the US, with fellow mediators Qatar and Egypt, is focused on amending Clause 8 of the hostage-truce deal, concerning negotiations to be held during the six-week ceasefire stipulated by the agreement’s first stage. Clause 14, which deals with the transition between stage one and stage two of the deal, is also being reexamined, Channel 12 news reported this evening.

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