The National Security Council pushed back on a report that Israel and Hamas, along with the United States, are reportedly on the verge of a deal that would see dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza released in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting.
Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “We have not reached a deal yet, but we continue to work hard to get to a deal.”
She was directly responding to a Washington Post report that said the sides had agreed a tentative deal whereby hostages would be released in batches every 24 hours for five days. There are currently 239 people held hostage in Gaza, with only five freed since the start of the conflict, while two have been found dead. The reported deal would allow for a significant increase in humanitarian assistance and fuel to enter Gaza
The two sides have been at war since Hamas terrorists slaughtered around 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, would pause to allow hostages in batches every 24 hours for five days.
News of the tentative deal comes just a day after it emerged President Joe Biden spoke with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, with the two leaders discussing the “urgent need” to address the hostage situation. Qatar, where Hamas operates a political office, has become a key player in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
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Earlier Saturday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a press conference: “Concerning the hostages, there are many unsubstantiated rumors, many incorrect reports. I would like to make it clear: As of now, there has been no deal.
“But I want to promise: When there is something to say – we will report to you about it.”
Israeli and United States administration officials have denounced the possibility of a ceasefire, pointing to Hamas’s track record of using previous agreements to rearm and prepare for future attacks.
But the Biden administration has pushed Israel to agree to humanitarian pauses to facilitate the passing of aid into the strip.
Separately, President Joe Biden, in an opinion piece for the Washington Post, outlined his framework for what must be done in Israel. While discussing the solution for the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, he urged a two-state solution with the Palestinian Authority controlling both Gaza and the West Bank.
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“As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution,” Biden wrote.
