Israel, Hamas ‘very close’ to reaching hostage deal amid fighting in Gaza

(Lauren Taylor)

ISRAEL AND HAMAS ARE VERY CLOSE TO REACHING AN AGREEMENT.

U-S AND ISRAELI OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN IN TALKS WITH MEDIATORS IN QATAR.

(PRESIDENT BIDEN)
“We’re now very close, very close, to bringing some of these hostages home very soon. But I don’t want to get into the details because nothing is done until it’s done.”

(Lauren Taylor)

UNDER THE PROPOSAL..
HAMAS WOULD RELEASE 50 ISRAELI HOSTAGES – WOMEN AND CHILDREN – WHO THEY KIDNAPPED DURING THEIR TERROR ATTACK ON ISRAEL OCT 7TH…

AND IN EXCHANGE – ISRAEL WOULD RELEASE 150 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS – WOMEN AND CHILDREN.. AS WELL AS AGREE TO A TEMPORARY 5-DAY CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA… AND ALLOW 300 TRUCKS OF AID PER DAY INTO GAZA – ACCORDING TO REPORTS.

ISRAELI’S WAR CABINET MET ON TUESDAY TO DISCUSS THE DEAL TERMS – THE FULL CABINET WILL HAVE TO VOTE.

NETANYAHU HAS ENOUGH VOTES WITHIN THE CABINET TO PROPEL THE VOTE TO THE FULL ISRAELI GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO THE TIMES OF ISRAEL.

IF THE VOTE PASSES…AN ANNOUNCEMENT COULD COME AS SOON AS WEDNESDAY MORNING.

EARLIER ON TUESDAY – HAMAS’ LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH SAID – WHILE NEGOTIATIONS WERE UNDERWAY – ISRAEL AND HAMAS WERE CLOSE TO A QUOTE — “TRUCE” END QUOTE.

HOWEVER – “TRUCE” IS NOT THE WORLD ISRAEL IS USING.
IN FACT – THIS MORNING, NETANYAHU’S OFFICE PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING ISRAEL HAS TWO GOALS IN THIS WAR…
NUMBER ONE… TO ELIMINATE HAMAS..
AND NUMBER TWO… BRING HOME THE HOSTAGES.

SO A DAYS-LONG FIGHTING PAUSE IN GAZA IS EXPECTED *IF* LEADERS CAN STRIKE A DEAL.

IT’S ALSO EXPECTED – ISRAELI TROOPS WILL CONTINUE CARRYING OUT THEIR MISSION OF ELIMINATING HAMAS – ONCE BOTH SIDES HAVE UPHELD THEIR END OF THE AGREEMENT.

AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE –
THE IDF CONTINUES AIRSTRIKES ON NORTHERN GAZA…
INCLUDING AT GAZA’S Indonesian hospital – WHERE HEAVY FIGHTING HAS ERUPTED… AND THE IDF IS EXPANDING ITS GROUND ASSAULT IN THE ENCLAVE.