Israel Indicates Progress in Ceasefire Talks in Gaza

Israeli leaders intend to meet today, Saturday, to discuss potential progress in mediation negotiations regarding a new ceasefire aimed at recovering hostages held in Gaza. Meanwhile, Palestinians do not see significant changes in the polarized positions, nearly five months after the outbreak of war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's National Security Adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, announced that "the war cabinet will receive a briefing today from negotiators who held talks in Paris with mediators about a potential ceasefire in Gaza." He added to Channel 12 that "the negotiators believe that their meeting yesterday, Friday, with Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediators calls for a war cabinet meeting this evening." Hanegbi did not provide further details but hinted at the possibility of progress before Ramadan, which has previously encouraged ceasefire efforts during past wars. Israeli representatives met yesterday in Paris with Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediators who had previously contributed to reaching the only ceasefire declared so far in November, under which dozens of hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist movement "Hamas" were released in exchange for Israel freeing Palestinian prisoners.