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President Biden's senior adviser Brett McGurk said in his talks in Israel today (Thursday) that progress has been made in the negotiations between the Qatari and Egyptian mediators and Hamas regarding a possible hostage deal, and therefore it is important that Israel send a delegation to the talks in Paris tomorrow and conduct serious negotiations - according to three sources who in details.
Barak McGurk/Official website, IISS screenshot
why is it important
The Biden administration wants to try to secure a deal for the release of the hostages before Ramadan, which begins on March 10, to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month.
The US is concerned about the tough position Netanyahu has taken in recent weeks when the Israeli negotiating team was not allowed to present new positions, ordered them to "just listen" and even refused to send a delegation for follow-up talks in Cairo.
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In the news center
CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to arrive in Paris on Friday for a meeting with the Qatari prime minister, the Egyptian intelligence chief and an Israeli delegation to discuss efforts to reach a deal to release the hostages.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and the War Cabinet have not yet decided definitively that an Israeli delegation will go to the talks in Paris.
A senior Israeli official noted that the members of the negotiating team - Mossad head Dedi Barnea, Shin Bet chief Ronan Bar and Major General Nitzan Alon - are interested in going to a meeting in Paris, but want to receive a mandate to conduct negotiations, in contrast to the meeting in Cairo last week in which Netanyahu forbade them to conduct negotiation
The War Cabinet is meeting tonight to make a decision on the matter.
Behind the Scenes
President Biden's emissary arrived in Israel yesterday evening and held talks today with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Galant and other Israeli officials who are involved in the negotiations for the release of the abductees.
According to three sources briefed on the matter, McGarrack's message was that there is progress in the talks between the Egyptian and Qatari mediators with Hamas and that the organization has shown a willingness to budge on its demands in the deal.
McGurk emphasized that the Biden administration believes that there is urgency in reaching an agreement to release the abductees as soon as possible, both because of the difficult situation of the abductees in captivity and because of the approaching month of Ramadan.
According to the three sources, the American envoy emphasized that in order to move towards an agreement, Israel must send a delegation to the talks in Paris and start conducting serious negotiations that will lead to a deal.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant told McGurk at their meeting that the War Cabinet will expand the mandate of the Israeli negotiating team, and at the same time the IDF will increase military pressure on Hamas - until it presents possible conditions for the return of abductees, according to the Defense Minister's office.
There was no response from the White House.
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