Israel's Netanyahu cancels trip to Colombia amid reported progress in talks with Hamas

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled on Thursday his planned trip to Colombia, citing "the situation in the south" of the country.

The unexpected cancellation came amidst reports of a progress in Egyptian-brokered talks between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group that runs the Gaza Strip.

The talks aim at halting attacks and counter-attacks by Israel and Gaza militants, which included Israeli airstrikes and live gunfire, and Palestinian rockets and helium-filled balloons that set fire to southern Israel's arid farmlands.

Also on Thursday, the Hebrew-language Ynet news site reported that Hamas deputy leader, Saleh al-Arouri, was expected to arrive in Gaza later on Thursday to discuss reconciliation proposal with Fatah and a long-term deal with Israel.

Netanyahu was scheduled to travel to Bogota on Aug. 6 to meet with presidents of Argentina, Guatemala, Chile and Honduras. His last trip to Latin America took place late last year when he visited Argentina.