Hostage negotiations in Cairo have made some progress, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel, but cautioned that “not everything the Egyptians say is true.”
The comment came in response to reports from two Egyptian officials who told Reuters that “significant breakthroughs” had been achieved in the ongoing talks.
Despite the optimism, major obstacles remain unresolved, particularly around the length of a proposed ceasefire and the future role of Hamas, the Israeli official said.
Addressing recent criticism of Qatar’s role in the mediation process, the official downplayed the concerns, saying, “It’s nothing new.”
“Qatar is in the negotiations for its own benefit — so that world leaders will come to Doha — not to pressure Hamas,” the official added, contrasting Qatar’s involvement with Egypt’s, which he said includes real pressure on the militant group.
The talks come amid heightened international scrutiny and urgency to reach a resolution, but officials on all sides acknowledge that significant gaps remain before a final agreement can be reached.
