Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a meeting of the Knesset (parliament) that “certain progress” had been made in negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and on the exchange of hostages.
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“Some progress has been made in hostage exchange negotiations, but it is unknown how much time will be needed (to conclude a deal),” Netanyahu said.
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More than a year has passed since the first deal with Hamas to release the hostages, and since then the parties have negotiated through intermediaries with varying degrees of intensity about the fate of the remaining hostages. Negotiations through mediators have intensified in Cairo and Doha in recent weeks, with people familiar with the matter saying progress has been made.
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On October 7, 2023, during a Hamas attack on the southern settlements of Israel, the radicals captured more than 250 people and took them to the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli data, Hamas still has 100 people in captivity, including those who are considered dead. During various operations and humanitarian efforts, 155 people were returned from Hamas captivity, including the dead hostages whose bodies were removed from the sector. The hostages, including women, children and the elderly, have been held captive for more than 14 months
