Reports in Saudi Arabian media that couldn’t be independently confirmed suggest Hamas negotiators are prepared to accept an Egypt-brokered deal within hours.
Israel’s Channel 12 also quoted a Hamas official who wasn’t identified, saying that the organization’s leadership had approved the implementation of the first phase of a hostage release plan. CIA Director Bill Burns arrived in Cairo on Friday to help Egyptian mediators work toward a truce, Axios reported.
As of earlier Saturday, Hamas had yet to make a formal response to the latest proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release put forward by US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who are looking to avert an Israeli military operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
Hamas officials en route to Cairo told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that they also question whether Israeli forces would resume fighting after hostages are released.
Israel will consider joining cease-fire talks with Hamas only when the militant group responds to the latest internationally mediated proposal for a temporary truce and hostage release, state-run Kan News reported earlier this week.However, Israel will under no circumstances agree to end the war as part of an agreement to release its hostages, an Israeli official said on Saturday. The official declined to be identified as discussions continue.Israel’s government briefed the White House this week on its plan to move Palestinian civilians out of Rafah before a potential military operation, the Associated Press reported, citing officials it didn’t identify.
That’s consistent with comments from John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House’s National Security Council, who said on April 28 that Israel had agreed to hear out US concerns.
