Israel to send delegation to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks

Jerusalem (The Uttam Hindu): Israel will send a delegation of senior security officials to Qatar next week to continue discussions on a Gaza ceasefire. The delegation consisting of representatives from the Mossad Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will travel to Doha to engage in talks about a potential agreement. Earlier this week Hamas reportedly proposed a one-week ceasefire to locate the remaining hostages held in Gaza and provide a list of individuals who could be released. Israel has not officially responded to the proposal.

The ongoing negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been in progress for over a year. In a statement on Wednesday Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would intensify its military operations if Hamas does not agree to a deal for the release of hostages. The Israeli government has made it clear that if the hostages are not released soon the military will increase efforts against Hamas strongholds in Gaza stating that these efforts will intensify if necessary. Hamas seeks to extend the truce while Israel insists on the right to resume military action if it perceives any security threat. Another major point of contention is Hamas's demand for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, which Israel opposes citing the need for continued security control.