Possible Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal Expected This Week — Here's The Latest

Signs of progress are emerging in the hostage release negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with U.S. officials suggesting that an agreement could be finalized soon.

What Happened: As per a CNBC report, U.S. officials have been tight-lipped about the deal. Previously, claims of a “tentative deal” by The Washington Post were disavowed by White House representatives.

The purported agreement would have seen approximately 50 Hamas hostages freed in return for a temporary halt of Israeli military actions. The timeline for a potential deal is estimated to be a matter of hours or days.

Israeli ambassador Michael Herzog told ABC that "a significant number of hostages" could be free "in the coming days."

U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer told CNBC on Sunday, “We think that we are closer than we have been, perhaps at any point since these negotiations began weeks ago,” though the precise terms of the hostage release are yet to be confirmed.

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Hamas currently detains around 240 hostages, including nearly a dozen Americans. Previous talks mediated by Qatar achieved the release of four hostages.

Despite the encouraging signs, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Israel will only consider a cease-fire once all hostages held by Hamas are released.

Why It Matters: The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has been marked by intense hostage release negotiations. Hamas had shown a willingness to release at least 50 women and children out of approximately 240 foreign and Israeli hostages.

Furthermore, in light of these developments, President Joe Biden stressed the importance of U.S. leadership in resolving the crisis. Biden emphasized the necessity for decisive action in the face of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, arguing that the decisions made now will shape the future for the next generation.

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