Hamas official says hostage talks possible without lasting truce
A top Hamas official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday that the Palestinian militants were ready to discuss a hostage deal without a “complete and permanent ceasefire.”
The apparent easing of the Hamas position comes amid renewed mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to tempt the rivals into talks to halt war that had just entered its 10th month.
“Hamas had previously required that Israel agree to a complete and permanent ceasefire,” the official said.
“This step was bypassed, as the mediators pledged that as long as the prisoner negotiations continued, the ceasefire would continue,” he added.
Israel has strongly opposed Hamas demands for a permanent ceasefire.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages the central aim of Israel’s military campaign launched after the Oct. 7 attacks.
‘Gaps’
An Israeli negotiator went to Doha for talks with the mediators on Friday. Israel said there are still “gaps” in counter-proposals made by Hamas but that the negotiator would return to Doha this week.
An official with knowledge of the mediation said US CIA director William Burns would also go to Qatar this week.
If full negotiations start, Hamas expects them to take between two to three weeks, according to the official.
