News & Events

Mediators in talks on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal say they have presented a proposal which “narrows the gaps” between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added new conditions in late July to a ceasefire proposal delivered to American, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators, which has hardened Israel’s position and complicated negotiations, according to documents seen by The New York Times.

Only a ceasefire deal in Gaza stemming from hoped-for talks this week would hold Iran back from direct retaliation against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its soil, three senior Iranian officials said.

Hamas has said a ceasefire plan for Gaza must be based on where talks were a month and a half ago rather than any new rounds of negotiations.

The leaders of the US, Egypt and Qatar have called on Israel and Hamas to resume urgent negotiations to finalise a ceasefire and hostage release deal, saying there were no excuses “from any party for further delay”.

Western officials have circulated a new Gaza ceasefire-hostage release proposal in the past four days that could put an end to escalating tensions in the region, according to a Qatari-owned media outlet.

Jonathan Dekel-Chen said he left a meeting last week with President Biden more optimistic that a deal to free his son could be close. But in the intervening days, a new crisis has unfolded with the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr. Negotiations appear to have halted for now.

Hamas leader’s assassination may lead to regional escalation and accelerate – or sabotage – a peace deal, analysts say.