TEL AVIV: Israel and Hamas signaled that an agreement is nearing completion to release hostages held by the militants in Gaza, although details of the deal are uncertain.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reservists, “We are making progress. I don’t think it’s worth saying too much, not at even this moment, but I hope there will be good news soon.”
The head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Authority, Qaddoura Fares, said, “The prisoner exchange deal includes the release of 350 children and 82 Palestinian women” held by Israel.
U.S. President Joe Biden said, “We are very close to bringing these hostages home very soon,” but added, “I don’t want to get into the details because nothing is done until it’s done.”
For days, U.S. news accounts have said that about 50 women and children of the 240 people seized by Hamas militants during its surprise October 7 attack on Israel could be freed. In addition, a five-day pause in the fighting could be implemented but not a more definitive cease-fire that some world leaders have called for.
Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, citing a source involved in the negotiations, says Qatar, which has acted as an intermediary in the hostage release negotiations, will publish details of the deal on Tuesday.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said talks have reached a “critical” and “final stage.”
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh described a truce deal with Israel on hostages as “close,” even as Israel continued its assault on Gaza in response to the militant group’s October attack on southern Israel.
Haniyeh made his comments in a statement, with the Reuters news agency reporting that negotiations were centered on the length of the truce, arrangements for aid delivery to Gaza and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after its fighters crossed into southern Israel in an October attack.
Israel said 1,200 people were killed and some 240 captives taken in the terror attack. Gaza health officials say more than 13,000 Palestinians, including 5,000 children, have been confirmed killed in Israel’s military retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip.
(VOA)
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