Tel Aviv/Cairo, 11 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The Israeli government has announced the continuation of the indirect negotiations on a hostage deal with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

A delegation from the Israeli domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet and the Israeli military will travel to Cairo shortly, the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem announced on Thursday.

At the same time, the office confirmed that a team of negotiators had returned from the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday night. Israeli delegates had met there with top representatives of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, all of which are acting as mediators in the talks.

Qatar in particular is in direct contact with Hamas, which Israel and the US regard as a terrorist organization. Israel estimates that Hamas is holding 120 hostages from Israel in the Gaza Strip, although many are of them are likely now dead.

MIA file photo