Positive indicators and a major obstacle in the Gaza negotiations

According to the broadcaster, Qatar conveyed a positive message to Israel regarding Hamas’ intentions to move forward with negotiations on the hostage deal.

The letter concerns the list of hostages and other points of disagreement between the two parties.

Following the letter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held urgent discussions with Defense Minister Israel Katz and the negotiating team.

Israel expressed its readiness to reach important agreements in the humanitarian phase of the deal, according to the sources.

Similar to previous talks, the two parties discussed the possibility of reaching a permanent ceasefire with the aim of creating a continuum between the various stages of the agreement, starting with the humanitarian release in the first stage and ending with the release of all hostages in the subsequent stages.
Sources familiar with the details indicated that the guarantees linking the two phases are the key that could currently lead to an agreement in which Israel must commit to not returning to fighting, and Hamas must commit to releasing the remaining hostages in the second phase.

American officials described this deal to Haaretz as “the best deal that Hamas could ever witness,” noting that the main obstacle is the lack of guarantees to link the stages.