Israel OK to engage in talks for truce, but war goals remain — envoy
​Israel is willing to cooperate with the talks that could possibly lead to a truce in its war with Hamas "as long as the Israeli security is protected," its top diplomat in Manila said Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Although Israel is now more open to negotiations compared to the early days of the war, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said their goals remain the same.
These are the release of all hostages by Gamas and the eradication of Hamas and all its facilities, he added.
"The war is imposed on us. We need to protect our citizens," Fluss said.
During the last weekend, intelligence officials from the US, Israel and Egypt engaged in talks that could finally secure a truce in the war that started on Oct. 7.
Qatar, also one of the negotiators, said there was "good progress" in the negotiations, while Israel said they were "constructive."
But Fluss said "what would be the political outcome of this war is too early for us to say."