Chances of Israel-Hamas deal are ‘very slim’, says Israeli hostage negotiator

Hamas has angrily rejected Joe Biden’s claim that it’s ‘backing off’ from Gaza ceasefire talks – while accusing the US of yielding to Israeli demands. Washington’s top diplomat Antony Blinken has been trying to generate support for a so-called ‘bridging proposal’ which, he says, Israel has agreed to. Hamas, though, has publicly rejected the current terms.

Sources familiar with the talks say the main sticking point is Israel’s insistence on retaining control of the Philadelphi corridor – the strip of land running along the Egyptian border, as well as the Netzarim corridor, which divides the north and south of Gaza.

Earlier we spoke to Gershon Baskin, an Israeli activist and hostage negotiator, who helped secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. I started by asking how likely it is that we’ll get a deal between Israel and Hamas.