Israel official says 'intention' to renew Gaza talks 'this week'

AFP , Saturday 25 May 2024

Mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a new ceasefire and captives deal are due to restart next week, an official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, on Saturday.

Palestinians search for survivors at the site of an Israeli strike on the Al-Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City on May 24, 2024. AFP

An Israeli official said Saturday the government had an "intention" to renew "this week" talks aimed at reaching a hostage release deal in Gaza, after a meeting in Paris between US and Israeli officials.

"There is an intention to renew the talks this week and there is an agreement," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity without elaborating.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 35,903 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza health officials.

Mossad chief David Barnea met with CIA chief Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani over the weekend in Paris in a bid to relaunch negotiations, the reports said.

The Qatari premier on Friday also attended a five-way meeting in Paris with President Emmanuel Macron and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan over the Gaza war and ways to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel, the French presidency said.