Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Tuesday (November 21) that a truce agreement between his group and Israel was already in sight, raising hopes that dozens of the over 200 people taken hostage on October 7 could be released.
Hamas, PIJ Agrees to Truce Deal
The Times of Israel cited Palestinian sources saying that a five-day ceasefire would be accompanied by the exchange of some of the hostages for prisoners held in Israeli jails.
"We are close to reaching a deal on a truce," Haniyeh said, according to a statement sent by his office to Agence France Presse (AFP).
The Hamas leader added that his group had given its response to Qatar and other mediators without making any elaborations.
Sources from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad confirmed to AFP on the condition of anonymity that their groups had agreed to the terms of a truce deal, which also included a ceasefire on the ground and limits to Israeli air operations over southern Gaza.
But Hamas's Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar insisted that all Israeli air operations be halted during the truce.
The agreement further stressed that between 50 and 100 Israeli civilian and foreign hostages would be released in exchange for some 300 Palestinians held in Israeli jails, including women and children.
Israeli military personnel would not be included in the exchange.
The Hamas and PIJ sources added that the tentative deal would also allow for up to 300 trucks of food and medical aid to enter Gaza.
This picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke billowing following an Israeli strike on the Palestinian territory on November 21, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.
White House Also Claims Hostage Deal with Hamas at Hand
It was previously reported that the United States expressed its belief that Israel and Hamas - which the US designated as a terrorist organization - were making significant progress towards reaching an agreement resulting in the release of some of the hostages.
Both US President Joe Biden and national security spokesperson John Kirby said they were confident that an agreement would be struck soon, with Qatar acting as an intermediary.
Israel Yet to Respond to Hamas's Hostage Deal Claims
There was no immediate official response from Israeli officials on the status of negotiation efforts to secure the release of the hostages seized during Hamas's sabbath assault across southern Israel. However, local media cited a senior Israeli official saying that they were "very close" to striking a deal.
The official added that, while there were still technical issues to resolve, there was an agreement to free at least 50 people, with dozens more slated for release if the truce were extended beyond the initial few days.
Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the Israel Defense Force (IDF) would press ahead with its offensive to annihilate Hamas and ensure that hostages would be released.
His office also repeatedly cautioned against various media reports regarding the hostage negotiations, adding that it would formally notify the public in the event that a deal has actually been reached.
Related Article: US Claims Israel Hostage Release Deal Is Closer Than Ever; IDF Continues Pounding Hezbollah, Iran's Other Terrorist Groups
