JERUSALEM: Efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip are continuing, despite diminishing hopes for a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan, according to a statement from Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency on Saturday.
Mossad chief David Barnea met with his American counterpart, William Burns, on Friday to press for an agreement to release the hostages, the Mossad said in a statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
“Contacts and cooperation with the mediators continue all the time in an effort to narrow the gaps and reach agreements,” said the Mossad statement.
Israel and Hamas have traded blame over the apparent impasse in talks in the run-up to Ramadan.
According to a Hamas source, the group’s delegation was “unlikely” to make another visit to Cairo over the weekend for talks.
Egypt and Qatar backed by the United States have been mediating ceasefire negotiations since January. The last deal led to a week-long pause in fighting in November when Hamas released more than 100 hostages and Israel freed about three times as many Palestinian prisoners.
In a statement on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, promised to continue fighting Israel until the Palestinians get their freedom and independence.
On Saturday, Hamas announced the names of the four Israeli hostages who were killed in the Israeli attack on the area, without providing evidence. The Israeli military declined to comment, but has previously said such Hamas videos are part of psychological warfare.
