Israel resumes hostage agreement talks
Israel's war cabinet has ordered negotiators to resume talks on a deal to free the more than 100 hostages held hostage in Gaza.
This decision comes after several weeks of stalled negotiations, as well as hours after the Families of the Kidnapped Forum released a video of the abduction of 5 girls on 7 October. The release of this video was intended to put pressure on the government to resume negotiations, as well as on the international community to push for an agreement.
Despite the decision to resume talks, Israel is not expected to change its position or its conditions, such as the refusal to completely stop the war. This has been the main obstacle in the negotiations, as Hamas insists on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
For this reason, according to sources quoted by Ynet, it will still be difficult to reach an agreement with Hamas. The negotiating team is not expected to come up with ideas other than those previously put forward.
The Israeli media also notes that Major General Nitzan Alon, one of the chief negotiators on behalf of Israel, will propose a "concrete offer" at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that is in line with the framework proposed by Egypt to Hamas and accepted by the terrorist organisation on 6 May.
Cairo has also taken steps to resume negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage deal following the Jerusalem decision, according to the Qatari newspaper The New Arab.
"Egyptian officials have initiated a series of contacts to renew negotiations for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange," a source confirmed to the newspaper.
He said Israeli delegations visit Cairo on a weekly basis to address issues related to Egyptian-Israeli security arrangements and to lodge protests of Egyptian cooperation in reopening the Rafah crossing.
Israel maintains operations in Rafah and northern Gaza
Meanwhile, the Israeli military operation continues in several parts of Gaza. In Rafah, considered the last Hamas stronghold in the Palestinian enclave, Israeli troops have eliminated a number of terrorists as well as infrastructure used by Hamas, such as missile launchers.
Israeli forces in Jabaliya in northern Gaza also engaged terrorists with air force support. They also confiscated AK-47 rifles, sniper rifles, magazines, explosive devices, including grenades, and additional military equipment during raids in the area.