Israel-Palestine Crisis: Hostage Release Deal Likely On Tuesday

Washington: A comprehensive deal to release Hamas held hostages in Gaza in barter for cessation of hostilities could be struck even as the Prime Minister’s office in Tel Aviv will hold a meeting on Tuesday to thrash out the details of such an agreement with the militant outfit.

A deal to release hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a pause in the fighting could be struck as soon as today (Tuesday), multiple officials told CNN.

“Israel’s war cabinet will meet Tuesday… amid developments on the issue of freeing the hostages,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Tuesday.

Netanyahu indicated on Tuesday that progress was made on the possible release of Hamas held hostages in Gaza.

“We are making progress. I don’t think it’s worth saying more, even at this moment, but I hope there will be good news soon,” Netanyahu said as he met with reservists.

Israel, Hamas and the US are on the brink of announcing a deal for Hamas to free the hostages, mainly women and children, abducted on October 7 attacks in exchange for a four-to-five day truce.

This would also include three Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons for every hostage released, according to people involved in the negotiations.

The deal could be announced on Tuesday.

In Israel and Gaza, people are now coping with the death and kidnapping of loved ones, of watching others die, of trying to stay safe and simply get food and medicine needed to get by. Past studies of mass traumas suggest that they’re all at risk of trauma-related mental health problems. Last evening Gaza Media Office released the latest updates.

#Gaza_Genocide : UN boss @antonioguterres bemoans ‘unparalleled’ killing of civilians, Gaza Media Office releases more details …#WATCHIT #طوفات_الاقصى #فلسطين_الان #KellyKhumalo pic.twitter.com/kpZPmRznzi

— Dr. Shahid Siddiqui (@shahidsiddiqui) November 20, 2023

US officials said the deal is not yet done fully, but they are optimistic difficult work is about to pay off with the release of the hostages, CNN said.

Any hostage release deal clinched on Tuesday cannot be implemented immediately as it takes a day or two to start the process as there are legal procedures that Israel must follow before releasing any Palestinian prisoners.

Those prisoners are expected to be women and adolescents, media reports said.

Israel’s leadership is under huge domestic pressure to secure the hostages’ release.

-With Agency Input

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