The leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh has revealed that a truce with Israel was close and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu hoped for good news soon about hostages.
This is most optimistic signs so far of a deal to pause the devastating war in Gaza and free captives.
The battle continued on the ground despite the appearance that negotiations were drawing to a close. Israel said that its forces had surrounded the Jabalia refugee camp, a significant urban flashpoint and a bastion for Hamas militants.
According to the Palestinian news agency, an Israeli airstrike on a portion of Jabalia, a crowded urban extension of Gaza City where Hamas has been engaged in combat with Israeli armoured forces on the advance, resulted in 33 fatalities and numerous injuries.
In southern Gaza, Hamas-affiliated media said 10 people were killed and 22 injured by an Israeli air strike on an apartment in the city of Khan Younis.
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Hamas leader, Haniyeh said in a statement sent to Reuters by his aide that group officials were “close to reaching a truce agreement” with Israel and the group had delivered its latest response to Qatari mediators.
Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu said, according to remarks released by his office: “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.”
US President Joe Biden told reporters that an accord to release some of the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas was very near.
‘My team is in the region shuttling between capitals. We’re now very close, very close, to bringing some of these hostages home very soon,’ he said.
Shortly afterwards, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said a hostage deal was close but not final.
Netanyahu summoned his war cabinet amid growing signs of a deal to free a number of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas militants to Gaza after their deadly cross-border raid into Israel on October 7, which triggered the war.
A U.S. official briefed on the discussions facilitated by Qatar said Hamas would free about 50 hostages, mostly women and children and including some foreigners, while Israel frees 150 Palestinian prisoners, with fighting paused for four-five days.
Israeli media outlets said later the government had convened to discuss approval of a deal.