Benjamin Netanyahu will chair a session of Israel’s war cabinet this evening after giving the clearest indication yet that a deal to release hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip is near.
“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,” Mr Netanyahu said.
The prime minister’s office said he will chair a session of Israel’s war cabinet at 6pm local time (4pm GMT). He will then convene a meeting of the broader security cabinet at 7pm (5pm GMT), followed by the full cabinet at 8pm (6pm GMT).
The cabinet would have to vote on any deal to release the hostages. Any agreement is expected to result in the release of about 50 hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and a multi-day pause in fighting in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu’s remarks came after Qatar, which hosts Hamas’ political leadership, said negotiations over the release of some of the 240 hostages held by Hamas were at their “closest point” to a deal and had reached the “final stage.”
Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ leader, said the group was “close to reaching a truce agreement” with Israel and had delivered its response to Qatari mediators.
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