Military analyst Sean Bell said earlier this afternoon that Benjamin Netanyahu will face more pressure to bring home Hamas-held hostages following the accidental killing of three by Israeli forces.
Now signs have emerged that suggest Israel may be more open to a new agreement with Hamas.
Egyptian optimism: Two Egyptian security sources said Israeli officials appeared more willing, in calls with mediators, to strike a fresh deal for another pause and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages.
They said Israeli officials appeared to have changed their mind on some points that they had previously refused, but did not go into further detail.
Hamas pessimism: When asked if there was a drive to resume hostage negotiations, a Hamas official told Reuters there was nothing new to report.
Israel in Qatar: Yesterday, Mossad director David Barnea met Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in a European capital, before briefing Mr Netanyahu today, a source told Reuters.
Axios reported it was the first meeting between the two since the November truce, in which Qatar was a key mediator.
Netanyahu speech? Israeli media reported the prime minister was set to convene his security cabinet and then deliver a televised statement this evening.
Mr Netanyahu’s office did not immediately confirm that.
“The state of Israel is crying and mourning the deaths of our three hostages,” says Benjamin Netanyahu, who is speaking at a news conference.
“It has broken my heart, it has broken the entire nation’s heart.”
He says they were so close to returning home, but the distance between victory and disaster is “tiny”.
The Israeli prime minister says he met the widow of a soldier killed in battle, and he knows that the pain is “like a dagger in your heart but they did not fall in vain”.
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