Hopes rise for new ceasefire talks in Gaza as Israel scales back demands
Israeli negotiators, offering a hint of hope for negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, have reduced the number of hostages they want Hamas to release during the first phase of the truce, three Israeli officials said on Monday.For weeks, ceasefire talks remained at a standstill. Now, with the new proposal in hand, a mid-ranking Israeli delegation planned to fly to Cairo on Tuesday to resume work, but only if Hamas agrees to participate, according to two officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue.Hamas did not respond to a request for comment on whether it plans to send representatives to Cairo. A senior Hamas official said on social media on Monday that the group was studying a new Israeli proposal.U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, wh...