Alon Liel, the former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, says Israel “reluctantly” sent its negotiating team back to Egypt for Gaza truce talks, with the United States “running the show in Cairo”.

“Most of the Israeli ministers would like to resume fighting to achieve what seems to them the number one goal of the war: destroying Hamas,” Liel told Al Jazeera. “Each time Israel presents its view, the United States gets closer to our view. It looks like the talks in Cairo wouldn’t happen if the United States would give up.”

Israel said it’s ready to resume talks based on “a bridging proposal” presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff that includes the release of 11 captives. Hamas, however, demanded that Israel abide by the terms of the truce deal signed in January and enter the second phase as agreed.