Report: Israel, US, Qatar agree to resume hostage deal, truce talks with Hamas this week

Israel, the United States and Qatar have agreed to renew mediated talks on a hostage deal and truce with Hamas, an Israeli official tells the Walla news site.

Egypt and Qatar will mediate fresh negotiations this week on the basis of a new outline negotiated in Paris by CIA Director William Burns, Mossad chief David Barnea, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to the report.

There has been no progress in talks since April.

The war cabinet has expanded the mandate of the team negotiating a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, the Ynet news site reported Thursday.

The report said that there was a wide consensus among the security establishment, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, ministers Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot and Ron Dermer, and cabinet observer Aryeh Deri that the negotiation team’s “leash” should be lengthened.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was originally against expanding the negotiation team’s mandate, according to the reports, but was swayed by the broad support for the move and the recent release of footage showing the kidnapping of female IDF soldiers on October 7.