PM To Convene Cabinet This Eve To Discuss Hamas Ceasefire Proposal

Wires reporting that accoruding to an unnamed source in PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the Israeli leader is set to convene consultations with cabinet on the evening of 4 July regarding proposals from Hamas for a possible ceasefire in Gaza. Prior to this, Netanyahu will hold talks with his ceasefire negotiations team.

• Hezbollah-linked Lebanese news outlet Al Akhbar reports that the latest version of a hostage-for-ceasefire deal includes “clear wording that does not allow for interpretation,” stating that there will be a calm period to allow for lengthy negotiations between the first and second stages and the of the nascent agreement. CIA chief William Burns is said to have, alongside Qatari, Turkish and Egyptian negotiatiors, been involved with the plan's preparations.
• There has been little movement recently towards a ceasefire agreement, but significant Israeli aerial bombing in the south of Gaza has raised speculation that the IDF could be engaged in the final major actions of the military campaign against Hamas.
• Notable regional and global focus has already turned northwards to the Israeli-Lebanese border where the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in an Israeli strike on 3 July has raised concerns of an escalation to all-out conflict.