Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the militant group’s latest demands “absurd,” but said he would send a negotiating team to Qatar to continue talks on a cease-fire and the release of hostages.
The talks could resume on Sunday afternoon or Monday, according to media reports.
Despite agreeing to resume the talks, Netanyahu has pressed on with a planned offensive on the city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt, where more than 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge from Israeli bombardments.
Israel’s allies and critics have warned Netanyahu against invading the city, fearing mass civilian casualties. Israeli officials have repeatedly claimed that southern Gaza is one of the Hamas group’s last strongholds, which they have vowed to eradicate.
At least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed and 73,676 wounded in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Saturday.
The United Nations has also warned that one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished and that famine is imminent.
