Israel Signals Hope for Hostage Release Deal as Talks with Hamas Set to Resume
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed hope of announcing the release of all hostages from Gaza "in the coming days" as indirect talks with Hamas are set to resume in Egypt. The negotiations, based on a new US-led proposal to end the war, aim to finalize technical details for the release of the remaining 48 hostages in exchange for a halt in Israel's offensive, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza.
Unpacked:
The hostages were taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israeli border communities near Gaza. Of the 251 people initially seized, 49 are still held, with the Israeli military stating that 27 of them are presumed dead.
Key obstacles include disagreements over the free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the extent and timing of Israeli military withdrawal, and Hamas’s demand for “real guarantees” of lasting peace.
The deal is expected to proceed in phases: initially releasing humanitarian cases (women, children, elderly, infirm), followed by military-aged men, in exchange for a truce, prisoner release, and partial Israeli withdrawal. Later phases would address remaining hostages and Gaza’s reconstruction.
The US, Egypt, and Qatar are acting as mediators, facilitating indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, proposing frameworks, and offering diplomatic guarantees to encourage agreement and ensure implementation of each phase.