No breakthrough after Israeli delegation returns from Gaza talks
Israeli media is reporting that there is little optimism after the heads of Israel’s Mossad and Shin Bet returned from the latest Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations in Cairo.
The assassination of top Palestinian negotiator and leader Ismail Haniyeh has left Qatar “angry” while the US is trying to maintain dialogue with all sides, according to Israeli news outlet Yedioth Ahronoth.
Multiple Israeli media reports said members of the Israeli negotiating team have accused Netanyahu of undermining the negotiations by “making changes” and adopting a tough stance. The prime minister’s office pushed back against “leaks and false briefings by unknown parties in the media”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is again being accused of trying to sabotage efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza that would also bring Israeli captives homes
Hamas says it has started process of choosing new leader
Hamas has issued a statement saying it has initiated a broad consultation process to select a new leader of its movement following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.
Haniyeh headed the group’s political bureau. His deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut in January, would have been the automatic replacement.
Several top Hamas officials could replace Haniyeh once the group’s Shura council, the main consultative body, meets.
