Report: Israeli officials say ‘large gaps’ remain with Hamas, but willing to continue negotiations

Israeli officials tell the Haaretz daily that while large gaps remain between Israel and Hamas on the resumption of the hostage-ceasefire deal, there is a willingness to continue negotiations.

Yesterday, an Israeli source told the outlet that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US are expected to exert heavy pressure on the sides in an attempt to achieve a breakthrough, but “it’s too early to know what the chances are.”

With the resumption of strikes in Gaza earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that hostage talks would only take place “under fire.”

Israel confirmed yesterday that it had received a new ceasefire-hostage release proposal from mediating countries, and said it had made a counteroffer.

The Israeli statement came after media reports said Hamas had agreed to an Egyptian proposal to release five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire in Gaza. According to multiple media reports, this does not meet Jerusalem’s demands, with Israel insisting on the return of 10 or 11 living hostages to resume the truce.

All the reported iterations of the truce would apparently see US-Israeli national Edan Alexander freed.

According to Haaretz, a senior Israeli official recently told the outlet that securing the release of Alexander “will take American pressure off Netanyahu’s back in everything related to the release of the hostages or progress to the day after [the war in Gaza],” adding that it would also lead to US President Donald Trump losing interest in the issue.