There has been progress in negotiations for a hostage deal, with a chance of reaching an agreement “within a week or two,” a diplomatic source told Ynet today (Tuesday). According to the source, “The starting point was that Hamas was not interested in a deal, but it seems the reality has changed.” The source emphasized, “Hamas wanted multiple fronts, but that’s over,” estimating that the new conditions on the ground make a deal possible within the next month.
Egyptian Mediation and Meetings in Cairo
A Hamas delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, has completed intensive discussions in Cairo with the Egyptian intelligence team. During the talks, a list of Israeli hostages—including the sick, elderly, women, and men—was presented, whom Hamas is prepared to release in the first phase. Additionally, Hamas outlined demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners. An Egyptian official noted that an Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo in the coming days, where the lists will be exchanged to advance negotiations.
Gallant: “A Real Opportunity for a Breakthrough in Returning the Hostages”
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met today at the White House with President Biden’s Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, and expressed optimism regarding progress in negotiations to secure the hostages’ return. “There is a real opportunity for a breakthrough on this issue,” Gallant stated. He also stressed that “the coming days will be critical for this mission.” Gallant linked the progress in negotiations to Israel’s operational successes in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, which have weakened the Shiite axis to the point of Assad’s regime’s collapse, solidifying Israel’s regional standing.
International Diplomacy in Efforts Toward an Agreement
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet again with hostage families in Israel. “We’re not on the verge of signing an agreement, but we are working very hard on it,” Kirby said. He added that the U.S. is applying pressure on Hamas to advance the deal and bring the hostages home.
Kirby also addressed Assad’s regime collapse and its potential positive impact on advancing the agreement: “Hamas is now looking at the world and realizing that no reinforcements will come to save them. So we hope that the latest developments in Syria strengthen the sense that they are completely isolated and that they need to take the deal.”
