According to sources in the Washington Post, the parties are “close to reaching an agreement under which dozens of women and children held hostage in the Gaza Strip will be released in exchange for a five-day break in fighting.” The publication’s sources note that the release of the hostages may begin “immediately.”
US President Joe Biden’s top Middle East adviser said on Saturday there will be no “significant pause” in the Israel-Hamas war until all women and children held by terrorists in Gaza are released.
— The increase in humanitarian aid, the increase in fuel supplies, the pause … will come after the hostages are released,” Brett McGurk said at a security conference in Bahrain. — The release of “all women, children, toddlers and infants” would create a “significant pause … and a huge influx of humanitarian aid.” – he explained.
White House: no agreement yet
McGurk said Biden discussed the issue Friday evening with the emir of Qatar, who is leading mediation efforts for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.
A White House spokesman then said that Israel and Hamas had not yet reached an agreement on the release of the hostages and a temporary ceasefire.
The spokesman said the United States was still working to reach an agreement between the two sides.
