Gaza: Negotiations to free hostages seized by Hamas are at their “Closest point” to deal and have reached “Final stage”, mediator Qatar said.

“We are at closest point we ever had been in reaching an agreement,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said, adding negotiations have reached “Critical and final stage”.

Qatar has helped broker talks aiming to free some of 240 hostages in return for temporary ceasefire, mediation effort that has so far led to release of four hostages, AFP reported.

“We are very optimistic, very hopeful,” Al-Ansari told briefing. “But we are also very keen for this mediation to succeed in reaching humanitarian truce,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has said temporary truce agreement with Israel was in sight, raising hopes that dozens of people taken hostage could be released.

Under agreement, between 50 and 100 Israeli civilian and foreign hostages would be released, but no military personnel. In exchange, some 300 Palestinians would be freed from Israeli jails, among them women and minors. There was no immediate response from Israel.

Hamas government press office said there was communications blackout in Gaza City and northern Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike hit telecom towers.

Gaza Health Ministry said 200 patients were evacuated from Indonesian hospital with help of Red Cross just hours after it was hit by deadly Israeli strike. On other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We are making progress” on return of hostages Hamas seized during October 7 attacks, after mediators said truce deal was in sight.

“I hope there will be good news soon,” Netanyahu told Israeli soldiers at military base in north of country.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 22 2023

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