Israel-Gaza war: Paris set to host ceasefire talks, 2 weeks after last bid failed
- International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to gain new momentum
- Israel has threatened to launch a full-blown attack on Rafah, the last city at Gaza’s southern edge
Israel will take part in negotiations this weekend in Paris with the United States, Qatar and Egypt on a potential deal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza, according to a source briefed on the matter and Israeli media.
But the head of Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was in Egypt this week, in the strongest sign in weeks that negotiations remain alive.
Israel’s Channel 12 television reported on Thursday that the war cabinet had approved sending negotiators, led by the head of Mossad intelligence service David Barnea, to Paris on Friday for talks on a potential deal to free more than 100 hostages kidnapped from Israel in October whom Hamas is still believed to be holding.
CIA Director William Burns, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel will also participate in the Paris meetings, the source said on Thursday.
The Paris summit comes as Netanyahu presented a “day after” plan for Gaza, his first official proposal for when the war in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory ends.