ceasefire

US officials: 'Prisoner swap' deal 'on brink of collapse'

US officials concerned that if talks for what they call a 'prisoner swap' deal with Hamas fail, Iran may attempt direct strike on Israel, escalating tensions throughout the Middle East.

Netanyahu promises:

Unclear if there will be a deal, we will not exit key corridors

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets families of fallen soldiers, hostages held in Gaza, says he will stand up to pressure to relinquish control of Philadelphi, Netzarim, corridors.

Bereaved families to PM:

For the sake of Israel's children - say NO to a reckless deal

Parents of fallen soldiers urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say 'no' to a deal which will harm Israel's security. 'Look into the eyes of our children, make a deal - but not one that harms Israel's security.'

MK Benny Gantz avoids question on price of prisoner swap deal

MK Benny Gantz is asked whether he would agree to withdrawing the IDF from the Philadelphi Corridor - but avoids the question. 'Rafah was conquered in 45 minutes, we can do it again.'

Blinken:

'Netanyahu assured me Israel accepts deal, now waiting for Hamas'

US Secretary of State says 'there is a real sense of urgency to get the deal to the finish line' after meeting Israeli leaders.

Security expert:

'End the war? Those who fell will have fallen in vain'

Former National Security Council chief Yaakov Amidror warns that if Israel abandons the Philadelphi Corridor, 'Hamas will reconnect to Sinai.'

US pressuring Egypt to station forces in Gaza after war's end

Egypt demanding ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas prior to discussions on placing Egyptian troops in Gaza following the war, official says.

Former Justice Minister:

Deal proposed today is 'the worst deal imaginable'

New prisoner swap deal would see just 20 living hostages released in exchange for long-term ceasefire, former Justice Minister Haim Ramon warns. 'Offer Hamas to end the war on condition that all the hostages return at once.'

Arab report:

Egypt agreed to delay withdrawal from Philadelphi Corridor

Israeli withdrawal no longer a precondition for a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal with Hamas, report says.

Blinken to Herzog:

This may be the last chance to bring the hostages home

Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, stresses: 'No one should attack Israel or meddle with our clear and inherent right of self defense.'

Likud estimates: Knesset will dissolve during winter session

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu estimates that if negotiations for prisoner swap fail, he will be able to approve it -even if Smotrich and Ben Gvir oppose.

Hamas claims:

'Netanyahu still placing obstacles in way of an agreement'

Hamas officially announces its rejection of the proposal for an agreement for the release of hostages and a ceasefire as presented at the summit in Doha.

Israeli officials:

Philadelphi Corridor issue resolved in ceasefire talks

US Secretary of State to arrive in Israel today in bid to push for finalization of ceasefire deal this week.

Report:

Withdrawal from key corridor - decided in Biden-Netanyahu talks

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri calls US Pres. Joe Biden's belief that a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal is close 'delusional.'

PM's Office: 'Cautious optimism' regarding deal with Hamas

Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expresses 'cautious optimism' regarding chance of ceasefire-prisoner swap deal with Hamas, hope that 'heavy pressure' will lead terror group to remove opposition to US-proposed agreement.

Ceasefire? In exchange for what?

It is as empty a term as the “two-state solution,” which the Palestinians have rejected time and again, and it certainly should not be one that endangers Israel's future. Op-ed

Israel's compromise during the Doha summit

Israel has agreed to reduce veto on which terrorists are released, in exchange for an increased number of hostages released each week, report says.

US, Egypt and Qatar:

An agreement will be reached

US, Egypt and Qatar announce that an agreement will be reached before end of next week to release hostages, save lives, bring relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalate regional tensions.

Hostage's father:

'Emerging deal could kill my son'

Tzvika Mor, the father of hostage Eitan Mor, warns that the multi-stage hostage deal puts the male hostages who will not be released in the first stage at risk.

Central sticking point:

Number of live hostages to be released in first stage of deal

Hamas insisting on releasing 'living or dead' hostages from 'humanitarian' group, Israel insists first stage of deal include 30 living hostages.

US envoy in Beirut:

'The clock is ticking for a ceasefire'

US envoy Amos Hochstein visits Lebanon, says clock is ticking for a Gaza ceasefire that could also help end the cross-border exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel.

Netanyahu approves Israeli delegation to Doha summit tomorrow

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the departure of the Israeli delegation to Doha tomorrow, as well as the mandate for conducting the negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Lapid answers Arutz Sheva:

'These are my limits on a hostage deal'

Opposition leader says his limits on how far he is willing to go to secure a hostage deal are the parameters of the deal currently on the table.

Biden expects Iran not to attack if a ceasefire is reached

US President says he expects Iran to back down from its threats to attack Israel if the summit aimed at securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas this week is successful.

Iranian officials say Iran may not attack if ceasefire reached

3 Iranian officials tell Reuters Iran may delay or even call off its planned attack against Israel if this week's talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are successful.

New York Times: Netanyahu set new conditions for ceasefire deal

New York Times article claims Israel made five changes to the ceasefire-prisoner swap deal proposal - but details only two of them, neither a new demand.

Handwritten messages:

Where is Yahya Sinwar hiding?

'No one in Gaza knows the exact location of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar,' Hamas source tells Asharq Al-Awsat.

Report: Hezbollah under pressure to delay attack on Israel

Arab countries are pressuring Hezbollah to delay its attack until after Egypt summit on ceasefire-prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas.

Smotrich hits back:

US would reject a deal surrendering to Al Qaeda and bin Laden

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responds to White House spokesman John Kirby's verbal attack, says he expects US to 'respect Israel's democracy, citizens, and politicians,' notes that hostage deal would 'abandon most hostages to death.'

Hamas' new demand for a prisoner swap deal

Hamas terror group announces that it will demand archterrorist Marwan Barghouti's release be included in the first stage of any agreed-upon prisoner swap deal, Sky News Arabic reports.

Blinken urges:

'Stop the escalatory actions, we need a ceasefire'

US Secretary of State urges all parties in the Middle East to make efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.

Hamas claims:

'Israel is thwarting a ceasefire agreement'

Hamas spokesman accuses Israel of deliberately thwarting the negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, as manifested in the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

PMO:

Hamas demanded 29 changes to ceasefire outline

Prime Minister's Office rejects Hamas's accusations Netanyahu is preventing a ceasefire deal, accuses Hamas of making dozens of new demands.

US, Australia, India, Japan demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza

'The Quad,' made up of the US Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, published a joint statement demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and the creation of a Palestinian state.

Report: These are Israel's four new conditions for ceasefire deal

Israel has set four new conditions for a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal, Al Akhbar report claims.

Hamas:

No security inspections when residents of northern Gaza go home

Egypt insists Israel compromise on demand to control Philadelphi Corridor, Hamas insists Gazans returning to northern Gaza do so without security inspections, Reuters reports.

Report: Israel agreed to one of Hamas' key demands for deal

Israel has agreed to compromise on Philadelphi Corridor, Rafah Crossing, in proposed ceasefire-prisoner swap deal with Hamas terror group, report says.

Officials to NYT:

Hezbollah willing to discuss ceasefire with Israel

Sources tell the New York Times that Hezbollah is willing to negotiate a ceasefire along the Lebanon-Israel border, provided a similar agreement is reached with the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

Defense Minister:

'Limited window of opportunity' for prisoner swap deal

IDF's military achievements during the war have created conditions, limited window of opportunity, to establish framework for the release of the hostages, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says.

Arab affairs expert:

Hamas at its lowest point militarily since the war began

Avi Issacharoff said that Israel should take advantage of the fact that Hamas needs a ceasefire to advance a hostage deal.

Israeli officials estimate:

Despite eliminations - hostage talks will continue

Based on Hamas' response, Israeli diplomatic sources estimate that the negotiations for a hostage and ceasefire deal will continue despite the strike on Hamas's military commander.

Report:

Israel and Hamas agreed that neither of them will control Gaza

The deal is still far from completion and will take work to arrange the many complex details.

Israeli journalist:

Hamas set a condition that will leave most hostages captive

Journalist Yaron Avraham explains Hamas' problematic condition for prisoner swap deal, adds: 'Israel cannot agree to this condition.'

Hamas attempts to blame Netanyahu for failure to reach deal

Terrorist organization claims it has demonstrated 'flexibility' in hostage negotiations, but Israeli leader is torpedoing chances for a ceasefire with red lines.

Report:

Destruction in Gaza may have pushed Hamas to drop demands

Messages from several senior Hamas officials in Gaza urged the group’s exiled political leadership to accept the ceasefire proposal and noted the terrorist organization's heavy losses.

Report:

Defense establishment heads were 'stunned' by PM's statement

Senior members of the defense establishment criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for laying out his conditions for a hostage deal before discussing them with them.

Report:

Hamas backed down from a central demand in the negotiations

A senior Hamas official said the organization agreed to negotiations without a ceasefire after the mediators said that Israel would not restart the fighting.

Prime Minister Netanyahu's red lines for a hostage deal

The Prime Minister's Office laid out Netanyahu's conditions for a hostage deal and emphasized that without his steadfastness Hamas would not have agreed to negotiate.

Father of Hostage:

'Such a deal would bury my son'

Tzvika Mor, whose son Eitan was taken hostage on October 7, expressed opposition to the emerging deal: "How can it be that they are talking about a deal and don't know the condition of the hostages?"

Hamas waiting for Israel's response to ceasefire offer

According to Hamas' offer, the hostages will be released before the end of the fifth week of the second stage, and only after the IDF withdraws its forces.

New UK Foreign Secretary:

'I back international efforts to secure Gaza ceasefire'

Britain's newly appointed Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, reiterates his support for international efforts to secure an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza and for the release of remaining hostages.

Mothers of hostages:

'Nine months without our children - Bring them home!'

In a powerful display of solidarity, mothers of hostages and thousands of supporters gathered at HaBima Square for the Mothers' Cry March to call for a prisoner exchange agreement.

Hamas official:

Israeli reports about hostage deal untrue

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas' diplomatic bureau, insists that in contrast to the reports, his organization demands that during the first stage, there will be a ceasefire between the sides.

Political source:

Netanyahu to dispatch team for more hostage talks

After reviewing Hamas's latest response, Israeli political echelon reportedly more optimistic that a deal to free the hostages can be reached.

Israeli source: We're on the brink of a deal with Hamas

Israel will evacuate Rafah Crossing, proposed deal allows Israel to return to fighting if Hamas violates conditions, reports say.

NYT:

Israeli generals want ceasefire, clash with Netanyahu

PM again says war will only end after Israel fulfilled its goals in response to New York Times report stating IDF generals want to end the fighting even if it means leaving Hamas in power.

US proposes new language for hostage deal

A source told Axios that that if Hamas agrees to the new language presented by the US 'it will allow to close the deal.'

Netanyahu:

'War won't end until Hamas eliminated, residents return home'

PM tells Knesset Israel is 'committed' to Biden's latest ceasefire proposal, but its position on the need to eliminate Hamas and restore security has not changed.

Hamas claims:

'Netanyahu is opposed to Biden's ceasefire proposal'

Hamas responds to Netanyahu's comments in Channel 14 interview, claims they prove he is opposed to the ceasefire and hostage release deal which was put forward by US President Joe Biden.

Israel’s long war

Anyone with eyes that see—realizes that “ceasefire deals” and “peace agreements” with proxies of Tehran are useless or, worse, lethal traps. Opinion.