Paris Talks Set To Begin; FT Rpt-Israel To Seek Complete Gaza Control

The Times of Israel is reportingthat "The Israeli delegation to Paris for the high-level hostage talks departed Israel for France a short while ago[...] According to the reports, the delegation is headed by Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. Speaking to Channel 12, an unnamed Israeli official said that there is “reason for optimism” ahead of the talks, but that the negotiations will be “arduous.”

• Hamas representatives were in Cairo earlier this week to set out their stance in conversations with Egyptian officials. Then on 21 Feb, Benny Gantz - a member of the Israeli war cabinet - claimed that a new draft indicated the “possibility to advance.” This was followed by a diplomatic push from the US for Israel to resume talks after PM Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew the Israeli delegation from talks in Cairo last week.
• Separately, the FT is reporting on a doc from Netanyahu's office regarding the post-war Gaza that "makes no mention of any role for the Palestinian Authority, [...] and rejects unilateral international steps towards recognition of a Palestinian state. It also foresees a sizeable security buffer within the besieged enclave, an outcome the US has made clear it opposes."
• The timing of the release would appear to undermine the Paris talks, given the hard-line stance of the document. However, it could be seen as red meat to the right of the Netanyahu coalition. Some parties within gov't have raised objections to any ceasefire deal in the short term.