Israel’s prime minister convened a sequence of high level meetings on Tuesday, bringing together the war cabinet and the full government to discuss developments around the hostages. Officials described the gatherings as a response to the evolving situation and a potential path toward a hostage release agreement.
Rumors quickly spread that talks with the Islamist group Hamas could yield a swap of hostages for Palestinian prisoners alongside a temporary ceasefire. In a statement issued from his office, the prime minister expressed cautious optimism, saying that he hoped for positive news soon amidst ongoing negotiations.
The president began the day with a war cabinet briefing at 18:00 Israeli time, followed by a political and security cabinet session at 19:00, and concluded with a gathering of the entire government at 20:00. Officials noted that these discussions were held in light of the latest developments surrounding hostage releases.
Speculation in Israeli media pointed to the government needing to authorize a deal brokered with involvement from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar before any agreement could be announced.
During a meeting with military personnel, the prime minister stated that progress was being made and suggested that there was little value in discussing details publicly at that moment.
From Doha, a spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry indicated that an exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel appeared near, though some logistical and non essential details remained unresolved, delaying any immediate announcement of a hostage swap.
Egyptian security sources told reporters that the proposed deal would include a five day ceasefire and the release of fifty hostages held by Hamas in exchange for three hundred Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. They added that the released captives would include women and children, with the process unfolding in a staged manner, roughly ten Israeli prisoners released per day for every thirty Palestinian prisoners freed.
The Egyptian sources also emphasized that a broader agreement would permit the entry of around three hundred trucks into the Gaza Strip, delivering food, medical supplies, and fuel to civilians affected by the conflict.
Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’s political bureau, acknowledged in Doha that the group was nearing a ceasefire agreement with Israel after more than six weeks of hostilities that have left a heavy toll on civilians, particularly in Gaza. He spoke amid ongoing talks and indicated readiness to move toward an end to the fighting.
The conflict that began on October 7 escalated after Hamas conducted a surprise assault that included rocket fire and the infiltration of militants into Israeli towns. Casualties and kidnappings during those events spurred a large scale Israeli military response in Gaza.
Since then, the conflict has resulted in a rising death toll and significant displacement. International aid agencies have reported criticism of the humanitarian situation, with many civilians facing shortages of essentials. The focus of diplomatic efforts continues to be on securing a rapid, verifiable ceasefire and ensuring humanitarian corridors along with mechanisms to monitor compliance.