No deal has been reached for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 war, according to statements from both Israel and the US. This comes in response to a report from The Washington Post claiming that Israel, the US, and Hamas were nearing an agreement to release around 50 hostages in exchange for a five-day ceasefire.
The report stated that the Qatar-mediated talks had made significant progress, with Israel and Hamas agreeing to a temporary ceasefire while releasing a portion of the hostages every day. However, no official deal has been confirmed.
Hamas took approximately 240 hostages, including women and children, following attacks on Israeli cities that resulted in 1,200 deaths. While Israel has responded with a brutal offensive on Gaza, the fate of the hostages remains uncertain.
When asked about a potential deal to secure their release, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there was currently no deal on the table. He emphasized that Israel is committed to bringing back all the hostages, but did not provide further details on their efforts. Netanyahu expressed the desire to reunite whole families.
The White House also denied the existence of a deal at this time. The White House National Security Council spokeswoman, Adrienne Watson, stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that they have not yet reached a deal but continue to work towards one.
Reports suggest that Israel is insisting on keeping families together in any hostage deals. Hamas is being offered a temporary halt in fighting, the release of some Palestinian prisoners, and increased fuel supply to Gaza.
Israel now faces growing pressure domestically due to the failure to secure the release of the hostages and internationally due to concerns over the high number of casualties in the ongoing war. Over 11,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began.
