Israel, Hamas could resume ceasefire talks within week, officials say

Diplomats aim to restart negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas over the next week, according to three officials briefed on the process, reviving hopes for an end to the conflict. fighting in Gaza even as Israel continues its campaign there.

According to officials, preliminary discussions took place this weekend in Paris between David Barnea, the director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. the intelligence agency, Mossad; William J. Burns, the director of the CIA; and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, one of the main mediators between Israel and Hamas. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

For months, Qatar, the United States and Egypt have been trying to cajole Israel and Hamas into accepting. a truce and exchange of captives that could help end the seven-month war.

But previous talks have repeatedly failed over the duration and nature of the truce. : Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire, allowing it to remain in control of Gaza, while Israel wants to be able to continue fighting after a break – so that it can remove Hamas from power. The other major point of contention in the last round was how to transition between the different phases of a three-phase deal.

The sticking points Previous precedents included the extent to which Israeli troops should withdraw from Gaza during any truce, and whether Israel will allow Gazans to move freely between north and south Gaza.

The parties also disagree over the number of hostages that should be released by Hamas, as well as the number of Palestinian prisoners that should be released in exchange by Israel. During the last round, negotiators raised the possibility that Hamas would release 33 hostages, mainly women, the elderly and anyone in need of urgent medical care. More than 120 hostages remain in Gaza, and about a quarter of them are dead, according to the latest Israeli assessment.

During the negotiations, Egyptian and Qatari officials have dealt directly with Hamas envoys, who do not meet in person with their Israeli or American counterparts. Egypt took the lead in the latest round of negotiations, held in Cairo, although Qatari officials were also present.

Diplomats say hostage negotiations must be completed in order to advance other related diplomatic initiatives. These efforts include a regional debate over who should govern post-war Gaza; discussions on a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia; and negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia fighting the Israeli army along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Rawan Sheikh Ahmad contributed reporting from Haifa. , Israel, and Julian E. Barnes contributed from Washington.