Israel announces its conditions for negotiations

Speaking to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, a senior political source denied reports that an Israeli negotiating team was about to head to Cairo to discuss a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

ISRAEL DEMANDS LIST OF HOSTAGE NAMES

The unnamed source noted that the Israeli delegation would not go anywhere without first receiving a list of the names of hostages still alive in Gaza. According to a report by the Israel-based news site "Walla," which cited an unnamed Israeli official, the Tel Aviv administration has informed Egypt and Qatar that it will not continue negotiations "until Hamas discloses the list of names of the hostages who are alive."

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

A high-level source speaking to Egypt's Al-Qahera News television had previously stated that the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip would continue tomorrow in Cairo.

Negotiations regarding a ceasefire and a mutual prisoner exchange in Gaza concluded on February 24 in Paris, the capital of France, with the participation of an Israeli delegation led by Mossad Chief David Barnea, CIA Director William (Bill) Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, and a Hamas delegation.

The Israeli war cabinet had decided to send a "low-level delegation" to Doha, the capital of Qatar, to continue the negotiations.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated that he would convene the cabinet at the beginning of the week to approve plans for an attack on the city of Rafah in the south, where approximately 1.5 million people fleeing attacks in the Gaza Strip have taken refuge, as well as plans for the evacuation of civilians from the area.

News Source: AA