Hostages could be home for Chanukah as hopes of a deal grow

We are the closest to a hostage deal since the last one," Defense Minister Israel Katz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday.

One-hundred-and-five captives—81 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals—were released during last year's ceasefire with Hamas that lasted from Nov. 24 to Nov. 30. As of December 16, 100 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with 36 having been declared dead.

An Israeli official, previously skeptical about negotiations, confirmed this week that progress has been made in talks aimed at securing the release of Israeli hostages held by the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, a source familiar with the negotiations told Israel Hayom that talks to formulate a hostages-for-ceasefire deal are expected to be completed by Chanukah, with implementation spread over an extended period.

The main point of contention between Israel and Hamas remains the number of hostages to be released during the deal. A source privy to the details indicated that Israel is still awaiting Hamas’s responses regarding both the framework of the agreement and the terror organization's ability to secure the release of captives.

According to the source, Israel will evaluate its next steps after Hamas presents a list of hostages to be freed. "The ball is in their court," the source said.

Despite the gaps between the parties, the message received from mediators has sparked more cautious optimism than in the past. In the same optimistic tone, Saudi news channel Al Arabiya quoted a senior Hamas official saying there has been "unprecedented progress in negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire" and a Hamas leader told the Saudi Asharq News outlet on Monday that a ceasefire deal is "closer than ever."

"We are closer than ever to reaching a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire if [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu does not disrupt the agreement," the senior official said.

He added that Hamas and other terror factions "presented an advanced position with great flexibility, represented by agreeing to a gradual cessation of the war, and a gradual withdrawal according to a specific and agreed upon timetable, and with guarantees from international mediators, in order to stop the aggression and protect our people."

However, he stressed that the terror factions "will not give up the Palestinian demands that the agreement lead to a permanent cessation of war, a complete withdrawal from the Strip, the return of the displaced and an honorable prisoner exchange deal."

Another source told Asharq News that Hamas has been informed that President-elect Donald Trump wants a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible, perhaps before the end of the year and before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.”

Netanyahu spoke overnight Saturday with Trump, with the prime minister saying in a statement on Sunday night that in their "very friendly, warm and important discussion," they discussed the necessity for an Israeli victory and the efforts to free the hostages.

The two leaders reportedly discussed a potential hostages-for-ceasefire deal with the Hamas terror group.

"We will continue to act relentlessly to return home all of our hostages, the living and the deceased. Let me add that the less we discuss this the better, and so, with God's help, we will succeed," Netanyahu said.

Adam Boehler, Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs, is visiting Israel this week.

He will meet with Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday.

Netanyahu on Saturday night called the two Hamas propaganda videos released a short time earlier “cruel and malicious psychological warfare.”

The premier also said that he maintains ongoing communication with the families of the captives, who are “enduring a terrible and prolonged nightmare.”

Originally published by Israel Hayom.