Qatar, which mediated the original hostage deal even though it has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel, sent an intelligence delegation to Israel on Saturday to discuss extending the deal.
Winston Churchill once described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Qatar is close to meriting the same epithet.
Begun days after Hamas's October 7 attack, the painstaking negotiations finally culminated in a deal to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day pause in fighting.
As part of that deal, Israel would agree to a five-day ceasefire, during which time the hostages would be released in small groups.
The deal would also involve increasing the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza, an official said.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum insisted that any move for a ceasefire must include the release of all of the hostages from Gaza.
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