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☆ US and Israeli officials say finalizing any ceasefire deal could take days
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —As negotiators meet in Cairo on Saturday, US and Israeli officials say any potential agreement on a framework that would pair a temporary ceasefire with a release of hostages in Gaza would likely be followed by continued negotiations over the finer details of the deal. A final deal between the two parties is expected to take several more days to negotiate. Negotiators have made progress on the technical aspects of a potential deal, but two Israeli sources say it could take a week to finalize the deal itself. American officials continue to view the talks with cautious optimism, describing progress but still mindful that previous efforts have fallen apart at the last minute. But Israeli sources said he could quickly head to Egypt if Hamas agrees to the framework.

Persons: Amir Levy, David Barnea, Bill Burns, CNN’s MJ Lee, Alex Marquardt, Kareem Khadder, Mostafa Salem, Eve Brennan Organizations: CNN, Saturday, CIA Locations: Cairo, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, Egypt, United States

☆ Hamas to consider ceasefire-hostage release proposal that Israeli sources say could avert Rafah invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Becky Anderson | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A working-level Israeli delegation of Mossad, Shin Bet and the Israeli military officials is expected to travel to Cairo on Tuesday, the Israeli source and another Israeli official said. Hamas has insisted that a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza should be part of the agreement. But Israeli sources have characterized the latest Egyptian effort to broker a deal as the last chance to avert that offensive. “The only chance to stop Rafah is a deal,” the Israeli source familiar with the negotiations said. Twenty people, including at least one infant and a toddler, died following an Israeli airstrike over Rafah, Gaza, overnight into Monday, according to hospital officials.

Persons: Shin Bet, Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, ”, Børge Brende, “, Sameh Shoukry, Israel, ” Shoukry, Blinken, John Kirby, Biden, we’ve, “ They’ve, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Mahmmoud Basal, Hijazi Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Mossad, Hamas, Economic, White, National Security Council, US, ABC, Israeli, Gaza Civil Locations: Riyadh, Jerusalem, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, United States, Cairo, Saudi, “, Israeli, Rafah “, Gaza City

☆ C.I.A. Director Blames Hamas for Stalled Peace Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages have stalled because Hamas rejected the latest proposal put forth by Israel, Qatar and Egypt, the C.I.A. director said Thursday, putting the blame for a lack of progress in talks squarely on the group that led the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. director and lead American negotiator, traveled to Cairo and pushed what he called “a far-reaching proposal” that Egyptian and Qatari negotiators took to Hamas. While Mr. Burns did not describe the details of that proposal, he said that so far Hamas has not accepted it. “It was a deep disappointment to get a negative reaction from Hamas,” said Mr. Burns, speaking at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.

Persons: William J, Burns, C.I.A, ”, George W, “ Organizations: Hamas, Qatari, Bush Presidential Center, Sunday Locations: Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Dallas, Gaza

☆ Analysis: Can Netanyahu avoid triggering a regional war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Nic Robertson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In a paradigm shift after decades of shadow proxy war, Tehran is usurping Israel’s strategy. “We have decided to create a new equation,” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salami said. When faced with existential threats in the past, Israel has executed the most audacious raids the region has ever witnessed. The damage that can be inflicted on Iran is huge, is huge.”So the most important question right now must be, can Netanyahu read the room right – with Iran threatening to attack, allies warning him not to – and avoid triggering a regional war. Iran, he implied, won’t attack Israel as long as it fears America’s reaction.

Persons: CNN —, Joe Biden’s, Ebrahim Raisi’s, ” Israel, Hossein, “, Bashar al, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Benny Ganz –, David Barnea, Staff Herzi Halevi, Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, of National Security Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ganz, Gallant, – Ganz, ” Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu’s, Saleh Al, Amos Yadlin, Yadlin, ” Yadlin, Bashar, Iran’s, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Biden Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, –, Staff, of National Security, IDF’s Military Intelligence, UN Security Locations: CNN — Israel, Israel, Iran, Tehran, Osirak, Syria, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Lebanese, Beirut, Lebanon, Damascus, America

☆ Ex-CIA director says Israel could use 'covert' operations to retaliate against Iran's drone strikes without escalating the conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA former CIA director says Israel could take a covert, rather than an overt, response against the Iranian drone strikes that took place on Saturday. They can pursue asymmetric attacks, cyberspace, and so forth," former CIA director and retired general David Petraeus told CNN on Sunday. The airstrike had reportedly killed several top Iranian military commanders. AdvertisementAnd that, Petraeus told CNN on Sunday, isn't something that Iran wants to see. Representatives for Petraeus did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: —, Israel, David Petraeus, Petraeus, BI's Rebecca Rommen, Mossad's, Brent Crude Organizations: Service, CIA, CNN, Business, United Nations, UN, NY, Atlantic Council, New York Times, Business Insider Locations: Washington, Iran, Israel, Jordanian, Iranian, Syria, Islamic Republic of Iran, Damascus, Tehran, Iraq's Kurdistan

☆ Strikes Upend Israel’s Belief About Iran’s Willingness to Fight It Directly
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Iran’s unprecedented strikes on Israel this weekend have shaken Israel’s assumptions about its foe, undermining its long-held calculation that Iran would be best deterred by greater Israeli aggression. For years, Israeli officials have argued, both in public and in private, that the harder Iran is hit, the warier it will be about fighting back. Iran’s barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles on Saturday — the first direct attack by Iran on Israel — has overturned that logic. The attack was a response to Israel’s strike earlier this month in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials there. “I think we miscalculated,” said Sima Shine, a former head of research for the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency.

Persons: Israel —, Israel, ”, Sima Shine Locations: Israel, Iran, Syria, Tehran, Lebanon, Yemen

☆ Leaders Urge Restraint as Israel Considers Retaliation Against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Mr. Netanyahu now must make a choice. Will he respond to Iran with a forceful counterattack and potentially entangle Israel and other countries in a broader war? No Israeli leader has warned about Iran so consistently as Mr. Netanyahu or, for that matter, has spent so long in office. Since his first year in office in 1996, Mr. Netanyahu warned that a nuclear Iran would be catastrophic and that time was running out. It was never clear if Mr. Netanyahu was bluffing, and the prospect of an imminent strike receded.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ”, Mazal Mualem, “, ” Ms, Mualem, Efraim Halevy, Netanyahu’s, Jeremy Issacharoff, Obama, Barack Obama, bluffing, Donald J, Trump, Mr, Issacharoff, Israel, “ Bibi Organizations: Al, Mr, United Nations General Assembly, Munich Security Conference, of Foreign Affairs, United Locations: Israel, Iran, East, Iranian Embassy, Damascus, Gaza, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, United States, Iranian, Israeli, Germany, U.S, States, Washington, United Arab Emirates

☆ Malaysia Arrests Armed Man Suspected of Being an Israeli Spy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has arrested an armed man at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, its top police official said, describing the 36-year-old as a suspected Israeli spy. The suspect turned over an Israeli passport upon questioning by police, Razarudin said. Razarudin said police was investigating the possibility that the man could be a member of Israeli intelligence, though the suspect told authorities he had entered Malaysia to hunt down another Israeli citizen due to a family dispute. Police were also investigating how the suspect obtained the weapons, which were purchased in Malaysia and paid for with cryptocurrency, Razarudin said. Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians and has criticised Israel's actions in the Gaza war.

Persons: Police Razarudin Husain, Razarudin, Anwar Ibrahim, Rozanna Latiff, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Reuters, United Arab Emirates, Police, Malaysia . Police, Authorities, Israel Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Malaysian

☆ Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks are ‘stuck but ongoing,’ sources tell CNN
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Talks over a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas have reached another stalemate but are not over, according to three people familiar with the negotiations. Burns put forward a proposal that was accepted by Israel and sent back to Hamas, the second person and an Israeli official told CNN. “The negotiations are not only centric around the prisoner exchange deal,” Hamas senior official Basem Naeim told CNN on Monday. Those releases would take place during the first phase of a ceasefire, which would be expected to last around six weeks. The senior US officials and Gallant did not reach any agreements on how Israel will move forward with an operation in Rafah in southern Gaza, US and Israeli officials told CNN.

Persons: “, ”, Bill Burns, Burns, Israel, David Barnea, Basem Naeim, “ Israel, Amir Levy, Yahya Sinwar, Matthew Miller, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, William Burns, Anna Moneymaker, ” Miller, Biden, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: Hamas, CIA, Doha, Qatari, CNN, Hamas didn’t, National Security, United Nations Security, Central Intelligence Agency, House Intelligence, Cannon, US, Biden Locations: Gaza, Israel, Doha, Qatar, Tel Aviv, Washington , DC, Rafah, Washington, US

CNN —Israel agreed to a US proposal on a prisoner-hostage exchange that would release around 700 Palestinian prisoners, among them 100 serving life sentences for killing Israeli nationals, in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli hostages, CNN affiliate Kan News reported Sunday, citing a senior Israeli official. Earlier in the weekend, CNN analyst Barak Ravid, citing an unnamed Israeli official, tweeted that Israel agreed to a US “bridging proposal” on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released for every hostage held by Hamas. Israel agreed to the proposal put forth by CIA Director Bill Burns, according to Ravid. Burns was in Doha, Qatar, where Hamas and Israel are engaged in talks through mediators. The latest proposal by Hamas this month demanded that some 700 to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners be released.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Barak Ravid, Israel, Bill Burns, Burns, Ravid, ” Kan, David Barnea, CNN’s Abel Alvarado Organizations: CNN, Kan News, Hamas, CIA, ” Kan News, Doha Locations: Doha, Qatar, Israel, Gaza, ”

☆ Israeli Negotiators Head to Qatar for Cease-Fire Talks, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Adam Rasgon | More About Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli negotiators were traveling to Qatar on Monday to participate in a new round of in-person talks aimed at achieving a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants, according to a senior Israeli official and another official briefed on the negotiations. The Israeli delegation’s trip to Doha, Qatar, comes after Israel and Hamas failed to reach an agreement ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began last week. The Israeli delegation includes the head of Mossad, the foreign intelligence agency; the director of the Shin Bet, the internal security service; and a representative of the Israeli Army, said the Israeli official. For months, Hamas leaders have been publicly calling for a comprehensive cease-fire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli officials have repeatedly rejected the demands and indicated that they would be open to only a temporary pause.

Persons: Shin, Israel Organizations: Palestinian, Israeli Army, Hamas Locations: Qatar, Gaza, Israeli, Doha, Israel

☆ Aid Reaches Northern Gaza as Israel and Hamas Consider Truce Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Nidal al-MughrabiCAIRO (Reuters) - Trucks of flour have reached northern Gaza for distribution to areas that have had no aid in four months, Palestinian media reported on Sunday, with famine looming in the enclave and truce talks between Israel and Hamas due to resume in Qatar. A Hamas source said the route was secured by Hamas security personnel. War in Israel and Gaza View All 222 ImagesAid agencies have warned that pockets of Gaza already face famine, with hospitals in the north reporting children dying of malnutrition and dehydration. Hamas killed around 1,200 people in its attack and seized 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has now killed more than 31,500 Palestinians according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza.

Persons: Nidal, Beit Hanoun, Israel's, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Olaf Scholz, King Abdullah, Netanyahu, Nidal al, Angus McDowall, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Qatari, Sunday, Palestinian Locations: CAIRO, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Israeli, Deir al, Rafah, Egypt, Jordan, QATAR, Doha

☆ Netanyahu tells CNN Schumer’s call for Israel election was ‘totally inappropriate’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Radina Gigova | Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But in his interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” Netanyahu hit back. It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there,” Netanyahu told CNN. Instead, efforts should be focused on “bringing down the Hamas tyranny,” Netanyahu said. The comments come after Netanyahu confirmed his plans to press on with an operation, despite mounting international concern. This will take several weeks, and it will happen,” Netanyahu said at the beginning of a government meeting.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Chuck Schumer, Schumer —, Israel —, Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana, ” Netanyahu, “, ”, Joe Biden, David Barnea, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Union, Hamas, Democratic, Israel, CNN Israel, Reuters Locations: Israel, “ State, Gaza, Doha, Rafah

☆ Israel to Attend New Ceasefire Talks as UN Says Gaza Hunger Crisis Worsens
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

DOHA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The main U.N. aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition is rising more quickly in the north of the enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks. Israel said on Friday it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on incapacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies. Air and sea relief deliveries into Gaza have started, but aid agencies say these are no substitute for bringing in supplies by land.

Persons: David Barnea, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ramadan, Olaf Scholz, Jordan, Andrew Mills, Angus McDowall, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: The United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Hamas, Air, Maayan Locations: DOHA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Rafah, Cyprus, United States, Doha, Jerusalem

☆ Israel slams Hamas’ latest Gaza ceasefire proposal as ‘ridiculous’ but says it will send negotiators to latest talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The response from Hamas was long-awaited after discussions over a proposed six-week pause in the fighting appeared to stall. Hamas communicated their latest proposal via mediators Qatar and Egypt on Thursday, two sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN. On Friday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands” but announced that an Israeli team would soon be traveling to Doha to further talks. The Hamas proposal included 100 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons, the diplomat said. Even if both Hamas and Israel are participating in the talks, the two sides would not be in the same room.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ”, Antony Blinken, Israel, ” Blinken, Bill Burns, David Barnea, John Kirby, we’ve, ” Kirby, CNN’s MJ Lee, Ireland’s, Biden nodded, ” Basem Naim, CNN’s Amir Tal, MJ Lee, Betsy Klein, Abeer Salman Organizations: CNN, Qatar, Hamas, Reuters, CIA, Biden, National Security, White House Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Israeli, Doha, Rafah, Qatar, Jordan

☆ Israel not sending delegation to Cairo for Gaza talks, Israeli official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Richard Allen Greene | Amir Tal | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Israel is not sending a delegation to Cairo for talks on a deal for a ceasefire and release of hostages from Gaza, an Israeli official told CNN Sunday. A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday, for the talks that are hoped to bring a halt to the fighting. The decision not to send an Israeli delegation was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in coordination with Mossad director David Barnea – who has been a key Israeli negotiator – after Barnea received a message that Hamas had not responded to the conditions, the Israeli official said. A high-ranking Hamas official did not immediately respond to a CNN question about whether the militant group had responded to Israel’s conditions. On Sunday a Hamas source said there were at least three sticking points remaining before the group would agree to a deal.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, David Barnea –, –, Barnea, Amir Levy, ”, Israel, “ Organizations: CNN, CNN Sunday, Hamas, Getty, Biden Administration, Sunday Locations: Cairo, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel

☆ Parties to Cease-Fire Talks Offer Mixed Signals
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Vivian Yee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The prediction matched that of President Biden, who said that a deal could come as soon as next week. In public, however, Hamas and Israel are sticking with their longstanding positions and not signaling any breakthrough. The two sides have not met face to face, instead negotiating through mediators in Doha, Cairo and Paris. Qatar’s foreign ministry said this week that talks were ongoing and it was too early to speculate about a resolution. Mr. Haniyeh met on Monday with the emir of Qatar and accused Israel of dragging its feet in the talks, according to a Hamas statement.

Persons: Israel, ”, Ismail Haniyeh, Abdel Fattah el, “ God, Biden, Haniyeh, Basem Naim, —, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Nada Rashwan, Adam Sella Organizations: West Bank, West Bank Palestinians, New York Times Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Qatar, United States, Doha, Cairo, Paris, Jerusalem, Islam

☆ Biden says Israel-Hamas ceasefire could come as soon as next week
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden said a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is "close." Biden said a peace deal could be in place as soon as next week. AdvertisementPresident Joe Biden said a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is imminent as negotiators work this week to hammer out the details of a potential deal. During a trip to New York on Monday, Biden told reporters that a cease-fire could be in place as soon as next week. The Biden Administration has doubled down on efforts to secure a cease-fire this month ahead of the start of Ramadan in two weeks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, —, We're, we'll, Shin, Israel, Antony Blinken Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet, Egyptian, Biden Administration Locations: Israel, New York, Gaza, Doha

☆ US says ‘understanding’ reached at Gaza hostage talks but negotiations continue
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Camila Dechalus | Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Negotiators have come to an “understanding” on the broad contours of a potential deal to release hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN Sunday. An Israeli delegation, including Mossad director David Barnea, joined talks with CIA director Bill Burns and Egyptian and Qatar negotiators in Paris on Friday. Qatar and Egypt serve as intermediaries between Hamas and Israel, which do not talk directly to each other. Crucially, Hamas has not yet signed onto this possible framework and any possible final deal is still, at the earliest, days away as negotiators continue to hammer out the actual details. But we will have to wait and see.”When pressed by Bash on how hopeful he was about a potential deal, Sullivan declined to weigh in: “There’s been a lot of to’ing and fro’ing.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, David Barnea, Bill Burns, I’m, ” Sullivan, CNN’s Dana, Bash, Sullivan, “, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, they’ve Organizations: CNN, National, CNN Sunday, CIA, Qatar, Union, Israeli, Fox News Locations: Gaza, Paris, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, United States, ‘ State

☆ Netanyahu unveils plan for Gaza’s future post-Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Richard Allen Greene | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Jerusalem CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a plan for the Gaza’s future post-Hamas, which includes the “complete demilitarization” of the enclave, closing off the territory’s southern border with Egypt, as well as the overhaul of Gaza’s civil administration and education systems. CNN has obtained a copy of the plan, which Netanyahu presented to members of Israel’s security cabinet Thursday night. On the security file, the envisioned plan includes Israel closing off Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, giving Israel complete control of entry and exit from the enclave. Yahya Hassouna/AFP/Getty ImagesOn the civil level, Netanyahu details an overhaul of Gaza’s civil administration and education systems, including an apparent cut-off of funding from Qatar to Gaza – which a previous Netanyahu government approved and facilitated. The Netanyahu plan also calls for “de-radicalization” in the education system, which Israel and its allies have long accused of promoting antisemitism and hatred of Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, David Barnea, “, Yahya Hassouna, Joe Biden, “ Israel, ” Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israeli, CNN, West Bank, Israel, Palestinian Authority, United Nations Locations: Jerusalem, Egypt, Paris, Gaza, Israel, Gaza’s, Rafah, United States, Jordan, ”, East Jerusalem, Gaza City, AFP, Qatar, Palestinian, United Kingdom

According to Israeli officials, about 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Qatar and Egypt have been acting as intermediaries between Israel and Hamas, which do not negotiate directly. The talks had appeared to stall last week, after discussions held in Cairo failed to reach a breakthrough. Mr. Kirby said Mr. McGurk intended to press the Israeli war cabinet for its plans for its military operation in Rafah. Israeli and U.S. officials have argued that an immediate cease-fire would allow Hamas to regroup and fortify in Gaza, and reduce the pressure for making a deal to release hostages held in the territory.

Persons: Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, David Barnea, William Burns, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Abbas Kamel, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Israel’s, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Brett McGurk, Yoav Gallant, “, Brett, ”, John Kirby, McGurk, Mr, ” Mr, Kirby, Gallant, Adam Sella, Cassandra Vinograd Organizations: Qatari, White, Mr, National Security Council, United, Security Locations: U.S, Paris, Gaza, Israel, Thani, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Gaza’s, Rafah, Tel Aviv, United States

☆ Israel’s war cabinet agrees to send a negotiating team to Paris for hostage talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Tel Aviv CNN —Israel’s war cabinet has agreed to send a negotiating team, led by Mossad Director David Barnea, to Paris on Friday to pursue talks over a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal, an Israeli official said. The negotiating team is expected to be empowered to engage in substantive negotiations rather than simply listening to proposals as they did during meetings in Cairo last week, the official said. The full Israeli cabinet is expected to vote on the matter overnight to give final approval for the trip. The decision came during a war cabinet meeting Thursday night, at the end of a day that saw US President Joe Biden’s Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk meet with top Israeli officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That proof, combined with positive indications from talks in Cairo on Wednesday and prodding from US officials, ultimately triggered the Israeli agreement to send a negotiating team to Paris.

Persons: Tel Aviv CNN —, David Barnea, Bill Burns, Joe Biden’s, Brett McGurk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Ramadan Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, CIA, Qatari, CNN, Paris Locations: Tel Aviv, Paris, Cairo, Gaza, Israel

CNN —Talks on a hostage and ceasefire deal for Gaza appear to be at an impasse. During the process, Israeli troops would gradually withdraw from Gaza, hostages would be released and Palestinian prisoners in Israel – including those serving life sentences – would be freed. The Israeli leader has repeatedly said that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel destroys Hamas’ leadership and rescues the hostages. Even as talks continue in Cairo, the Israeli military has been conducting operations in Gaza designed to hunt down top Hamas figures. The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday said that Hamas must change its negotiating position before talks can continue in Cairo.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel –, Said Khatib, ”, ’, –, Netanyahu, “, Matthew Miller, Ronen Zvulun, Shin Bet, Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu –, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “ We’re, we’re, Joe Biden, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, CIA, Israeli, Getty, “, US State Department, ’, IDF, State Department, The Washington Post Locations: Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Paris, AFP, Qatar, “ Qatar, Doha, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, “, Egypt, Albania, The Washington, Palestinian, United States

☆ Opinion: The crux of Israel’s challenge
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. Rafah encapsulates the perverse genius of the Hamas strategy, and the unwinnable moral dilemmas it created with the war it deliberately provoked. The crux of the matter remains how to make Hamas relinquish power in Gaza. If Hamas leaders leave, surrender, or lay down their arms, the war could end. Hamas leaders vow that massacres like they committed on October 7 will happen “again and again,” that Israel cannot be allowed to exist.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, CNN —, William Burns, David Barnea, Fatah, “, Said Khatib, —, Joe Biden, Ofri Bibas, Hitler, Eichmann, Goebbels … ”, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jordan’s King Abdullah, ”, John Kirby, there’s, Mahmoud Abbas, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, CIA, West Bank, Getty, Hamas, Israel, Wall Street, Health Ministry, National Security, New York Times, United Arab, Palestinian Locations: Iran, Gaza, Israel, Cairo, Rafah, Egypt, AFP, Hague, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Palestinian

Other Israeli officials have said only a deal can bring about the release of so many hostages. A deal in late November brought about a brief truce in exchange for the release of about 100 hostages. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive talks with the media. That was viewed as a nonstarter for Israel, which wants to topple Hamas before ending the war. Residents and displaced Palestinians in Gaza were searching through the rubble from Israeli airstrikes that provided cover for the Israeli forces.

Persons: — Israel, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Fernando Marman, Louis Har, David Barnea, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, ” Biden, King Abdullah II, ”, Khan Younis, ___ Jobain, Goldenberg, ___ Organizations: U.S, Health Ministry, Hamas Locations: CAIRO, Gaza, Rafah, Qatar, U.S, Egypt, Israel, Cairo, Western, Gaza’s, Tel Aviv, israel

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