U.S. Official: We Are Closer to an Agreement for the Release of Hamas Hostages

A White House official said on Sunday that we are closer than ever to reaching an agreement for the release of some Hamas hostages in Gaza. According to Reuters, John Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor, stated that the agreement for the release of hostages, the number of which is 'significantly more than 12', may include a long pause in hostilities and the possibility of humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza. On Sunday, one day after Israeli and American officials denied a Washington Post report of an agreement, clashes between Israel and Hamas intensified. Hamas fighters engaged with Israeli forces attempting to penetrate the largest refugee camp in Gaza. Finer commented on the negotiations for a ceasefire agreement to NBC, saying, 'What I can say at this stage is' that some disagreements have lessened in a 'very complex and very sensitive' negotiation. Michael Herzog, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., also stated in an interview with ABC that Israel hopes a significant number of hostages held by Hamas will be released 'in the coming days.' However, the Deputy National Security Advisor warned that until all matters are agreed upon, no agreement is in place. He said, 'Sensitive negotiations like this can fall apart at the last moment.' Hamas took approximately 240 hostages during its deadly border attack on southern Israel on October 6. The Hamas attack prompted a military response from Israel, which aims to eliminate the presence of this Iran-backed group in Gaza. The U.S., European Union, and Japan have designated the Iran-backed militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization.