Israel and Hamas were last night reported to be on the brink of a six-week ceasefire, which would see the release of 40 Jewish hostages the terror group are holding in Gaza.
The deal would involve a pause in the fighting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins on March 10.
On Saturday night, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding talks with his war cabinet to discuss the proposals, which would require the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return.
Earlier in the day, Israeli officials met with counterparts from the US, Qatar and Egypt in Paris to negotiate the hostage deal.
However, Israeli sources in London stressed that no Hamas representatives were present at the talks, with Qatar and Egypt acting as their intermediaries.
Benjamin Netanyahu was holding talks with his war cabinet on Saturday night to discuss ceasefire proposals
Demonstrators hold placards demanding a deal to secure the release of Jewish hostages
A demonstration demanding an early election in Tel Aviv, Israel
Israel’s National Security Council head said that, from what he had heard, there was ‘progress’ in reaching a deal for the hostages
Police use water cannons to disperse demonstrators protesting against Netanyahu’s government
Relatives of Israeli hostages gather in Tel Aviv waving flags and holding pictures of their family members
Family members of hostages light candles on February 10 in Tel Aviv
On Saturday night, Israel’s National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi said: ‘From what I’ve heard in the last few hours, it will be possible to make progress.’
He added that David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, had not returned from Paris empty-handed.
Although Hamas did not make any comment on its social media channels, a Palestinian official briefed on the Paris talks said: ‘While Israel is focusing on an attempt to turn any agreement into a prisoner-swap deal, Hamas insists that any agreement must be based on a commitment by the Israeli occupation to end the war and pull its forces from the Gaza Strip. This is the priority as far as Hamas is concerned.’
Another Palestinian source said that the hostage release was not imminent, but there was an ‘outline’ that could lead to a truce.
The truce may begin ahead of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast from dawn till sunset.
It is understood that Israeli hostages released in the first phase would include children, women, the elderly and the sick. In return, the Israelis will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom have been convicted of murdering Israelis.
Hamas took 240 hostages during its terror attacks on October 7 – during which 1,200 Israelis were murdered – and 134 remain in captivity in Gaza.
Israel and Hamas agreed a previous seven-day truce in November, when 50 Israeli hostages were released by Hamas and more than 150 Palestinian prisoners were released by the Israelis. Hamas also released 26 Thai nationals who were also taken hostage.
Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Tower Bridge in London on Saturday
Activists were seen letting off flares, waving Palestinian flags and carrying banners as they marched across the bridge
Mr Netanyahu has been under immense pressure to negotiate a deal with Hamas to bring hostages home. There have been protests outside his office in Jerusalem, as well as in Tel Aviv, almost every night by families of the hostages and their supporters demanding the return of their loved ones.
Many are calling for Mr Netanyahu’s resignation over his handling of the crisis.
In London on Saturday, hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters occupied Tower Bridge, bringing traffic to a standstill and eventually causing police to close it for almost an hour.
Activists were seen waving Palestinian flags, letting off flares, and carrying banners that read ‘Save Gaza, Ceasefire Now’ as they marched across the bridge. Drummers pounded out a beat as protesters clapped and chanted ‘free, free, Palestine’. Other placards accused Israel of ‘genocide’ and ‘murder’.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza yesterday reported that another 92 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli bombardments in the previous 24 hours, raising the overall toll to 29,606.
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