Report: Mossad chief tells PM a hostage deal only possible with compromise on return of civilians to north Gaza

Mossad chief David Barnea has conveyed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a hostage deal will only be possible if there is a compromise on the return of Palestinian civilians to north Gaza, Channel 13 news reports.

The outlet says that the premier has not yet made a decision, but notes that war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot has made it clear that he believes that there is space for Israel to be flexible on the matter.

Truce talks between Israel and Hamas reportedly resumed yesterday in Cairo, the latest attempt to bring about a pause in fighting and the release of hostages after nearly six months of war in the Gaza Strip.

Haaretz on Saturday quoted an unnamed Israeli source who reiterated that the talks have been deadlocked because Hamas has refused to show any flexibility on its demand for all northern Gazans to be allowed to return and its conditioning of any further hostage releases on an Israeli commitment to ending the war and withdrawing all IDF forces from Gaza. Israel has rejected both of these demands outright.