According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, whose comments were confirmed to Agence France-Presse by his spokesperson, the negotiators “have never been so close to an agreement” with a view to the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip since the November 2023 truce.
The minister made these remarks to members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Israeli Parliament on Monday. Delivered during a closed session, these words were quoted in the Israeli press, before being confirmed by Mr. Katz’s spokesperson.
“Regarding the possibilities of reaching an agreement on the exchange of prisoners and a ceasefire between the occupation [Israël] and resistance [le Hamas et d’autres groupes palestiniens]I believe we are actually closer to the goal than we have ever been before, if [Benyamin] Netanyahu is not intentionally derailing things like he has done every time”confirmed to Agence France-Presse, on condition of anonymity, a Hamas official contacted in Doha.
During a press briefing in Washington, the spokesperson for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, judged that the negotiations were productive, while noting the persistence of blocking points. “We push as hard as [possible] and we think we can reach an agreement. But once again he will return to Hamas and Israel (…) to get him across the finish line”Mr. Miller said.
In Jerusalem, Mr. Netanyahu’s office announced that the Prime Minister had met in the evening Adam Boehler, designated by American President-elect Donald Trump to be his special envoy for the hostages.
