On Tuesday, the Cairo hostage negotiation summit of intelligence chiefs ended. The Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet director Ronen Bar returned to Israel.
Radio station Kan Bet, citing sources in Jerusalem, reported the day before that Israel had softened its stance in hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations for the release of hostages.
CIA director William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel took part in the meeting.