Israeli Officials Signal Fresh Optimism on Cease-Fire Talks (1)

Senior Israeli officials said progress has been made in negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza that would include the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, a move that drew criticism from far-right ministers who threatened to bring down the government.

“We’ve reached a critical point,” Foreign Minister Israel Katztold Army Radio on Monday. “If matters work out, a large number of hostages will return home and then, in stages, everyone. But remember that we are dealing with Hamas and there is not a lot of time. I am more optimistic than I was.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told military ...