Huang Peizhao, a special correspondent of this newspaper in Egypt, and Li Meng, a reporter of this newspaper.
CNN quoted an Israeli ** as saying that on the 23rd local time, a negotiating team led by Barneya, the head of the intelligence agency Mossad, arrived in Paris and will negotiate on the exchange of detainees and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Times of Israel said on the 23rd that although this news has not yet been officially confirmed, it has been widely reported, which means that Israel believes that progress is possible in the relevant negotiations.
According to the Times of Israel, Israel's decision was made after the US White House coordinator for Middle East and North Africa affairs, Brett McGork, held talks with the Israeli prime minister and defense minister on the 22nd. According to the Ministry of Defence, discussions with McGurk covered the rescue of detainees, "operational progress in Hamas strongholds in central and southern Gaza, and humanitarian aid efforts." The Israeli side told McGurk that Israel would give the negotiators more authority to move forward with the talks. According to Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Israeli officials said that as part of the agreement, Hamas may show more flexibility on the number and identity of Palestinian detainees that Israel intends to release, and at the same time, Hamas will continue to demand an end to the war.
CNN quoted sources on the 22nd as saying that Burns, director of the US intelligence agency, as well as Egypt and Qatar, will participate in the talks in Paris this week. According to the Times of Israel, John Kirby, the coordinator of strategic communications for the White House committee, did not confirm reports that Burns would meet with a number of countries in Paris, but said Washington remained committed to making every effort to reach an agreement to release the hostages in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire.
According to Al Jazeera 23**, a delegation led by Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniah, has left Egypt after three days of discussions in Cairo. According to the Hamas statement, the delegation met with the head of Israel** and Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, and discussed a ceasefire agreement that included the release of Israeli and Palestinian detainees. The meeting also discussed the continuing tensions over the flow of humanitarian assistance into northern Gaza and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem.
For months, the parties have been trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Associated Press quoted an unnamed Western diplomat and an Egyptian** as saying that there were "encouraging" signs of negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Egypt, Qatar and the United States will work out new proposals at the Paris talks on the 23rd or 24th, the Egyptian** said. Western diplomats say both sides want a ceasefire.
While efforts are being made to negotiate a ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli army intensively bombed the central part of the Gaza Strip on the 22nd, killing at least 40 people. That night, Israeli forces also launched a drone strike on a car in the West Bank city of Jenin, killing one person and injuring 15. Tensions are rising in the West Bank ahead of Ramadan, and according to the New York Times, Israel's wartime cabinet member Benny Gantz has warned that Israel will continue its operation against Rafah during the Ramadan holiday, which begins on March 10, if a ceasefire is not reached.
According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu presented plans for Gaza's future after the war ended. The plan envisages the appointment of "locals" with no ties to Hamas or its foreign supporters to govern Gaza and allows Israeli forces to "maintain indefinite freedom of movement throughout the Gaza Strip." Israel will also continue to implement its plan to establish a "buffer zone" on the Palestinian side of the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, which will remain in place "for as long as there is a security requirement". Netanyahu's plan also describes the "complete demilitarization" of Gaza. The plan makes no mention of the involvement of the Palestinian Authority, which Netanyahu has previously said will not be part of the future of post-war Gaza.
Al Jazeera said on the 23rd that Palestinian ** Abbas has rejected the plan, saying that the plan will continue Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. ▲