Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed the families of hostages held in Gaza that a potential deal for their release could be near, as the conflict continues in the Palestinian territory. This announcement comes amidst ongoing military operations in Gaza’s Khan Younis area, where Israeli forces are targeting militant positions.
Netanyahu, currently in Washington D.C. for discussions with President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials, expressed optimism about the progress of negotiations. “The conditions for a deal are undoubtedly ripening. This is a good sign,” Netanyahu stated during a meeting with the families of the hostages.
Efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, have intensified in recent weeks. A proposal put forth by President Biden in May initially gained traction but has since faced delays. Netanyahu acknowledged that any agreement would likely be implemented in stages but remained hopeful about advancing the negotiations.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, however, dismissed Netanyahu’s remarks, accusing him of stalling and attempting to appease the families of Israeli captives. An Israeli negotiation team is expected to resume talks in Cairo on Thursday, with discussions focusing on a possible exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. A previous truce in November saw the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Egyptian security sources reported that Israel has indicated its delegation will arrive in Cairo with positive responses, aiming to progress towards an agreement. The hostages were taken during a Hamas raid into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and around 250 captives, according to Israeli sources. Hamas and other militant groups are still holding 120 hostages, with Israeli authorities declaring around a third of them dead in absentia.
The ongoing conflict has led to significant casualties among Palestinians, with Gaza health authorities reporting over 39,000 deaths since the start of Israel’s retaliatory offensive.
In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes continue to target Khan Younis, leading to intense clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants. The U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, reported thousands of civilians fleeing the area due to the violence. The Israeli military stated that its operations in Khan Younis have resulted in the deaths of numerous militants and the destruction of weapon caches and tunnels.
Palestinian medical sources confirmed that one person was killed in an airstrike on Tuesday. Gaza’s health ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants, has stated that most of the casualties are civilians. Residents in Khan Younis reported Israeli tanks positioning deep within the nearby town of Bani Suhaila, with soldiers conducting searches and occupying high-rise buildings to target militants.
In the central Gaza Strip’s Bureij camp, six Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house. Residents have received evacuation orders from Israeli security officers, prompting many families to seek refuge in the Nuseirat camp to the west.
