Israel ‘willing to withdraw more troops' from Gaza than previously offered
The Jewish state is now willing to withdraw more troops from Gaza during the ceasefire than previously offered, The Times of Israel newspaper reported on Monday, citing an Arab diplomat.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha have recently stalled.
A major sticking point is the differing views on the extent of the Israeli troop withdrawal, particularly from southern Gaza.
Israel had previously been adamant that its forces remain in a relatively large area, including a 3km-wide buffer zone along the border with Egypt near Rafah, as well as the so-called Morag Corridor, which separates Rafah from Khan Younis, the next second city in the coastal strip.
Hamas, though, has demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the positions they held before the collapse of the last ceasefire in March.
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