The Israeli negotiating team has expressed cautious optimism after the latest round of talks regarding a ceasefire in Gaza. “It is hoped that the pressure from the mediating states on the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement will eliminate their resistance to the US proposal for an agreement and lead to a breakthrough in the talks,” a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday. This was the first official statement from Israel after two days of talks in Qatar, which did not result in a breakthrough but were described as constructive. The delegation r…