Mediated Israel-Hamas talks on hostage deal expected next week, source says

JERUSALEM:

Mediated negotiations

between Israel and Hamas to reach a deal to free

Israeli hostages

held in the

Gaza Strip

are due to restart next week, an official with knowledge of the matter said on Saturday.
The decision to restart the talks, said the source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality given the sensitivity of the issue, came after the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met with the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, which has been a mediator.
"At the end of the meeting, it was decided that in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active US involvement," the source said.