Hamas gives "positive" response on deal - but obstacles remain
Israeli officials said that they are still "studying the details" of the response.
Hamas said that it sent the Egyptian and Qatari mediators a "positive" response to the proposed hostage deal today (Friday), but Israeli officials have serious reservations, according to Israel Hayom.
While one official said that Israel is seriously studying the details of Hamas' response, which claims to accept the deal but adds its own proposed changes, others said that there are some real sticking points.
The main one is how far should the IDF retreat: Hamas wants the IDF to effectively retreat entirely from the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire period, while Prime Minister Netanyahu and others seek to control all the Strip south of the Morag corridor, including Rafah.
In previous partial deals, Netanyahu insisted on always retaining some of the IDF's strategic footholds and gains within the Strip, with an emphasis on areas along the border with Gaza or which cut Hamas off from vital resupply routes or reinforcement routes within the Strip.