New high-stakes Gaza truce talks hope to avert a wider war

The New York Times first reported on Netanyahu’s additional stipulations, citing internal Israeli government documents outlining the country’s negotiating position.

Netanyahu’s office said Tuesday that reports that Israel had added new conditions to the proposal are “false” and that a letter from him last month “does not introduce extra conditions and certainly does not contradict or undermine the May 27 proposal.”  

It accused Hamas of asking for 29 changes to the proposal.

Netanyahu denied a report Thursday that he had spoken with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump ahead of the cease-fire talks.

Top Hamas official Osama Hamdan told The Associated Press this week that the militant group was losing faith in the United States’ ability to mediate a cease-fire and bring an end to the 10-month-old war.

A senior Biden administration official acknowledged a large amount of progress was still needed before the two sides would agree to a cease-fire. 

“It’s not like the agreement is going to be ready to be signed on Thursday,” the senior administration official told reporters. “There’s still a significant amount of work to do, but we do believe that what’s left here really can be bridged, and there’s really just no time to lose.”

Speaking to NBC News in Beirut, Hamas spokesman Walid Kilaani said that Iran and Hezbollah’s possible retaliation “doesn’t have any connection” with the talks in Doha. But he suggested that if Israel offers a much better deal, Hamas would discuss it with Iran and Hezbollah — a hint at how the two could become intertwined.

Israel’s monthslong assault on the enclave has killed more than 40,000 people and injured more than 90,000, according to local health officials, while the overwhelming majority of the population has been displaced. The offensive was launched in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, in which some 1,200 people, were killed and another 250 or so taken hostage.

The Biden administration has faced mounting domestic and international criticism over its military support for Israel, but on Tuesday announced the approval of $20 billion in new arms sales to its close ally.

However, the Pentagon said that deliveries of the fighter jets and other equipment would not begin for years.