Israel war in the live ticker: Biden speaks to Netanyahu after a long break 2024-03-18 19:20:58

New negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of more hostages began in Qatar on Monday. The Israeli TV station N12 reported that Head of the foreign intelligence agency Mossad, David Barneamet with mediators in the emirate.

The Israeli security cabinet approved the departure of a delegation led by Barneas to the Gulf state late on Sunday evening. In the capital Doha, mediators Qatar, Egypt and the USA are trying to advance the recently stalled talks on a temporary ceasefire and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas recently presented a new proposal to mediators. In it, Hamas no longer demands that Israel end the war before the first hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. In doing so, Hamas came closer to the contents of a multi-stage plan that the mediators had presented several weeks ago and which Israel had accepted.

Because Hamas has now made some moves, Israel is ready to take part in the indirect mediation talks in Qatar for the first time in two weeks. Israel and Hamas do not negotiate directly. However, Israel continues to speak of the terrorist organization’s unrealistic demands. Israeli television reported that it was expected that the talks might last at least two weeks.