Amid reports of quiet negotiations with Hamas regarding the release of hostages, Yaron Abraham reports this evening (Sunday) that the Prime Minister is convening a meeting in his office tonight to discuss the hostage deal negotiations and the attempts to initiate a deal, with indications received in Israel in recent days about Hamas's willingness to compromise on some of the parameters that make up the agreement.
The assessment of professional sources is that Hamas has changed its "forever" strategy, as a senior Israeli official refers to it in my ears, meaning holding the captives indefinitely.
Additionally, in a conversation between Yael Alexander's mother and Prime Minister Netanyahu, he not only told her that "the conditions are ripe – after the closure of the war in the north – for the return of the captives," he also said, "Things are happening behind the scenes that I cannot share."
At the same time, an Israeli official believed that there had been some progress on the part of Hamas regarding the issue currently in dispute in the negotiations between the organization and Israel, within the framework of the talks with Egypt – this was reported today on Kan 11.
However, the source said that Hamas insisted on a ceasefire, and without agreement on that, no breakthrough would be achieved. Additionally, the issue of a ceasefire also has political aspects, with some cabinet ministers expressing opposition.
Earlier today, the Wall Street Journal reported that Egypt is negotiating with Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza as part of a new effort that could allow additional aid into the strip and create momentum towards a broader ceasefire agreement.