Mediators from Egypt and Qatar conveyed to the Israeli side that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, has expressed an interest in a ceasefire agreement. This update came through CNN, citing an Israeli source familiar with the discussions.
The Israeli account suggests that Sinwar is pushing for a ceasefire, though it remains unclear how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views the proposal and its potential terms.
One television source emphasized that there is no clarity on the prime minister’s stance, noting that Washington has explicitly urged Jerusalem to move toward a ceasefire to prevent a broader escalation in the region.
Earlier, Yoav Galant, the Israeli defense minister, issued a stark warning, saying that enemies of the Jewish state should expect a response unrivaled by any past action in similar circumstances.
In a recent phone call, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Netanyahu and voiced strong condemnation of threats from Iran, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, and other actors against Israel. Scholz reiterated support for a ceasefire in Gaza and called for progress toward that outcome.
There was also commentary from a council discussion suggesting that Iran might hesitate to launch an attack against Israel, signaling potential strategic recalibrations in the region.