Israeli Officials "Less Optimistic" About Hostage Deal With Hamas

Amichai Stein at Kann reporting on X: "Israeli officials say tonight: less optimistic about the chances of reaching a hostage deal, 'It seems the Paris document doesn't correspondent with Hamas demands.'" [quote lightly edited for clarity]

• Per Kann, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said a short time ago: "Hamas responded to the efforts of the mediator brothers and agreed to the path of negotiations around the cessation of aggression and showed great seriousness and flexibility, but the organization sees that Israel is procrastinating and this is something that Hamas will not accept in any way, time does not allow such a thing."
• White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters moments ago that she "doesn't have anything to share," on the status of ceasefire negotiations, adding that it is a priority for President Biden to "move forwards with a temporary ceasefire."
• White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN yesterday that he hopes that negotiators will agree to the “basic contours” on an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in the coming days.
• However, the prospect of a compromise deal, which can see the exchange of hostages and a short ceasefire, were undermined by a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday declaring that Israel will attack Rafah - a town in southern Gaza where over a million Palestinians have taken refuge - even if a ceasefire agreement is reached.
• "Proximity talks" are currently underway in Doha with Israeli and Hamas delegations meeting separately with Qatari intermediaries.