Three senior Iranian officials have said that only a ceasefire deal in Gaza would hold Iran back from direct retaliation against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The US says a ceasefire agreement is still possible but has warned progress is urgently needed to avoid a wider war.Mediators are expected to consult with the Palestinian group after ceasefire talks take place.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that CIA director Bill Burns and US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk will represent Washington at the talks. Hamas' absence from the talks does not eliminate chances of progress since its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya is based in Doha and the group has open channels with Egypt and Qatar.
The group said negotiations "should examine mechanisms to implement what was agreed upon in the framework deal submitted by mediators that would achieve a comprehensive ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, breaking the siege, opening crossings and reconstruction of Gaza as well as reaching a serious hostages/prisoners deal".
A ceasefire deal would aim to ensure the release of Israeli hostages held there in return for Palestinians jailed in Israel, but the two sides remain divided by sequencing and other issues. In response, Israeli forces have razed much of Gaza, displaced most of the population and killed around 40,000 people, most of them civilians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
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