Egypt hosts Israeli, US teams for talks on Gaza deal, says TV channel

Cairo [Egypt], July 8: Egypt will host Israeli and US delegations for talks on "outstanding points" in a potential ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, Egyptian television reported.
Momentum for clinching the deal recently picked after weeks of deadlock.
Egypt's state-linked al-Qahera News TV, citing a high-level source, reported late Saturday that Egypt is also holding "consultations and contacts" with Hamas as part of efforts to reach the deal.
The indirect talks, which the US, Egypt and Qatar are mediating, have been at a standstill for weeks, with Hamas insisting that Israel end the war in Gaza in return for around 120 hostages still held by the fighters.
But Hamas has recently signalled a degree of flexibility and sent Israel a new proposal.
Earlier this week, Hamas said it has exchanged "some ideas" with the mediators and dealt in a "positive spirit" with current discussions.
There remain gaps between the demands of both sides.
Hamas is still looking for wording that would lead to a permanent ceasefire in the first stage of the hostage deal, which Israel is vehemently rejecting.
Israel has been bombarding Gaza since Hamas launched unprecedented attacks on Israel in October last year that included massacring 1,200 people and taking a further 250 hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Israel believes that around 120 hostages are still there, but many of them are probably no longer alive.
Source: Qatar Tribune