Israel announces sending delegation to negotiate release of Gaza hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday, July 4, that he had agreed to send a delegation for negotiations aimed at securing the release of the hostages taken in the October 7 attacks.

In a statement released after a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden, Mr Netanyahu’s office said: “The prime minister informed President Biden of his decision to send a delegation that will continue negotiations for the release of the hostages.” There was no indication where the delegation would go or when it would leave.

Netanyahu called a meeting of his security cabinet on Thursday evening to discuss proposals sent by Hamas through Qatari mediators to end the Gaza conflict, media reported.

Hamas has demanded an end to the fighting and an Israeli withdrawal before any agreement on the release of the hostages can be reached. Israel has responded that there can be no end to the war without the release of the hostages in the Palestinian territory. Netanyahu has also repeatedly promised that the Gaza campaign will not end until Hamas’ military and government capabilities are destroyed.

Hamas said Wednesday night it had sent new “ideas” for a potential deal and Netanyahu’s office said the government was “evaluating” them.

Qatar, Egypt and the United States are playing a mediating role between the two sides and sources familiar with their efforts said there had been a renewed effort to bridge “rifts” between the enemies in recent weeks.

In May, Biden announced a path to a truce deal that he said had been proposed by Israel and included a six-week truce to allow for negotiations and possibly a rebuilding program for the devastated Gaza Strip.