Hostage talks 'advancing slowly,' Israeli delegation to head to Qatar

Talks on the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas reached some progress, but “are advancing slowly,” an Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post, Report informs.

The official added that Hamas has not yet handed over the list of hostages still alive that would be released in a deal.

Hamas has claimed that it cannot reach all of the hostages and will need several days after the ceasefire has already begun to compile the list. However, “This is a false claim. Hamas has the capability to do it now, they just don’t want” to produce the list, said the official.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the continuation of hostage deal and ceasefire negotiations in Doha on Thursday evening, Israeli media reported. The Israeli delegation to the talks is set to depart for Qatar on Friday.