Israel’s War Cabinet has instructed the negotiating team to continue efforts to secure the release of the hostages, Israeli media reported early Thursday morning, citing a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The War Cabinet had previously met for four hours.
Because Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas do not negotiate directly with each other, Egypt, Qatar and the US act as mediators in the Gaza war.
The most recent round of negotiations ended without results. Talks have been stuck ever since.
Unprecedented attacks by Hamas and other extremist groups in the Israeli border area on October 7 last year killed around 1,200 people in Gaza and took more than 200 hostage.
The attacks prompted Israel’s military offensive in the coastal area, which has killed more than 35,700 people so far, according to Gaza’s health authority. Most victims are women and children.
The count, which is virtually impossible to independently verify, is considered largely credible by the UN and human rights groups.
