In brief
Israeli ministers will convene this Saturday to evaluate the next steps in the ongoing negotiations for a Gaza cease-fire, following a constructive response from Hamas regarding the latest proposal.
Israeli ministers are preparing for an important meeting on Saturday evening to consider the path forward in the American-backed initiative for a cease-fire in Gaza. This comes after Hamas indicated it was open to negotiations based on a new truce proposal, describing its formal response as "positive." The Israeli government will need to assess whether to send negotiators to meet with Hamas in a yet-to-be-decided Arab country. The talks would be mediated by Qatari or Egyptian representatives, who would facilitate communication between the two sides, who do not wish to meet directly. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the current proposal outlines a 60-day truce during which there would be exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a pullback of Israeli forces to predetermined lines. Mediators would utilize this two-month period to work on a permanent resolution to the ongoing conflict.Both parties seem inclined to consider this new plan; however, they might encounter delays due to previous sticking points. Hamas is demanding assurances that any truce will not only be temporary but will instead signal a more lasting end to the ongoing hostilities. On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he is reluctant to agree to a permanent cease-fire without first dismantling Hamas's governance in Gaza.
