Israeli Officials Report Softening of Stance on Certain Issues in Cease-Fire Negotiations: Real-Time Updates

After a monthslong standoff, Israel is softening some of its demands in negotiations over a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held there. As part of its latest proposal, Israel would allow displaced Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza, marking a significant reversal on an issue that has been a sticking point in the talks.

For weeks, Israel had insisted on imposing significant restrictions on Palestinians returning to the north, fearing that Hamas could exploit a large-scale return to strengthen itself. However, in a surprising move, Israel has now agreed to allow Palestinian civilians to return en masse during the first phase of an agreement, according to two Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The officials revealed that those returning to the north would face no inspections or limitations, or at most, very minimal restrictions. This shift in Israel’s stance comes as part of negotiations being conducted indirectly through mediators from Egypt and Qatar. However, it remains to be seen whether Hamas will accept this latest proposal, as the group has long demanded a permanent end to the war as part of any deal.

The ongoing cease-fire talks were a focal point of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s visit to Israel, where he emphasized the need for swift progress without delays or excuses. Despite Israel’s threat to invade Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, where a large number of civilians and Hamas fighters are located, the country is showing willingness to make concessions in order to reach a resolution and free hostages.

In a recent development, Israel reduced the number of hostages Hamas would need to release in the initial phase of a deal from 40 to 33. This change was influenced by Israel’s belief that some of the hostages may have died in captivity. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure from his right-wing coalition partners to reject compromise, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stating that giving up on invading Rafah would be unacceptable.

Despite the internal political pressures, Mr. Netanyahu has affirmed that an invasion of Rafah will take place to achieve “total victory” over Hamas. If a deal is reached between Israel and Hamas, it would be the first cease-fire since late November, when a brief pause in the fighting allowed for the release of hostages and prisoners.

The negotiations continue to be complex and delicate, with the fate of many lives hanging in the balance. The international community is closely watching the developments in the hope of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza.