"We are still far from an agreement but Hamas has abandoned some of its demands following the hardening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."
A senior Israeli political official said this, quoted by the media, referring to the progress of negotiations with Hamas on the release of the hostages.
The talks "were very good" and "significant progress" was made, now it is up to Hamas to decide.
This was made known, cited by Haaretz, by sources close to the negotiations on the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages in Paris between the Israeli delegation and US representatives, including CIA director William Burns, Qatar and Egypt.
According to the sources, an updated framework for the potential agreement will now be presented to Hamas.
A diplomatic source then explained to Haaretz that "an agreement can be reached before Ramadan".
"Any further progress - he added - is in the hands of Hamas".
Hamas reportedly lowered some of its demands as part of a new deal on the return of Israeli hostages still in Gaza.
This was reported - citing sources familiar with the dossier - by the Saudi network 'A-Sharq' reported by the Israeli media.
According to these sources, the Islamic faction would have reduced the number of Palestinian prisoners to be requested from Israel and would no longer pose as a condition the total withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Strip, nor a permanent ceasefire, but rather an initial 6-week truce .
However, the IDF should withdraw from the major population centers of the Palestinian enclave and there should be a return of displaced people from the south to the north of the Strip.
Hamas - according to the Saudi network - now wants the release of 200/300 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the agreement.
UN rapporteur, 'Israel embodies apartheid par excellence'
"It's apartheid, don't be afraid to say it. South Africa gave us the word, but the reality is embodied by Israel par excellence."
This is what Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, said while speaking at the international conference 'Peace and justice in the Middle East, focus on Palestine', promoted by the Florence City Council.
The speech was applauded by the audience.
"I know it's not because I said something intelligent," she added, "but because I said the word apartheid. Because it's apartheid."
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