Netanyahu Approves Resumption of Ceasefire Negotiations...Hamas's "Close to a Deal"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized negotiators to resume negotiations on the ceasefire and hostage release in Doha, Qatar, Israel's prime minister's office said.

A Hamas official also told AFP news agency that negotiators had arrived in Cairo, Egypt, and were preparing for negotiations in Doha in the coming days.

In Doha, indirect negotiations brokered by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt have recently failed to make progress, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of being insincere.

In a related development, Mohammad al-Hindi, the secretary-general of the Palestinian militant group "Islamic Jihad," told Xinhua that he was close to reaching a ceasefire deal with Israel.

Alhindi said he was close to exchanging hostages and prisoners and a ceasefire agreement, albeit in part.

In addition, in the first phase of the ceasefire, the Palestinians explained that they would prepare and deliver a hostage list for a week at the request of Israel.

Israel is calling for the inclusion of 12 soldiers who are not eligible for the first phase of release, and Hamas is imposing conditions instead of making such concessions, Alhindi added.