Negotiations on an Israeli hostage deal are very close to the finish line, US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer suggested Sunday.
“Many areas of difference that existed previously have narrowed,” Finer told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“We believe we are closer than ever to reaching a final agreement, but that on an issue as sensitive and challenging as this, the mantra that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed really applies,” he said.
Prospects for a breakthrough also gained strength after Qatar’s prime minister indicated on Sunday that only minor logistical obstacles remained in the way.
But Finer warned: “We don’t have good information about the condition and status of the hostages.”
He also noted that it is unclear exactly how many American hostages are being held by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which kidnapped dozens of people during its heinous attack on Israel on October 7.
US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer stressed on Sunday that a possible agreement on the hostages is very close, although in his opinion it is not completely complete.
“Obviously the US government does not speak directly to Hamas. Hamas has indicated that there are a significant number of hostages they are keeping alive. Those are the hostages we are negotiating for,” Finer told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Sources familiar with the talks said a draft of the hostage deal could be ratified within days, but warned that peace talks could still break down at any time due to Israel’s advances in northern Gaza, CNN said.
The tenuous nature of the talks was evident when Hamas walked away from the table at least once after Israel raided Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in Gaza City, the sources said.
Despite the unstable situation, those involved in the talks are optimistic that an agreement will be reached soon, the sources added.
The devastated parents of the Israeli army soldier. Noa Marciano attends his funeral at the Modi’in military cemetery on November 17. Getty Images
Last week, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan revealed that there were at least nine US citizens and one US legal permanent resident missing from Israel after the Hamas attack.
Hamas is generally believed to have kidnapped about 240 hostages since the bloody surprise attack, according to estimates by Israeli officials.
Qatari, Egyptian and American officials are believed to be involved in the negotiation process.
On Saturday, the Washington Post reported that a tentative deal had been negotiated for the release of around 50 women and children in exchange for a five-day pause in Israeli attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House have denied this.
Posters in solidarity with the kidnapped Israelis were placed on the wall of a building on Broadway in the Noho section of New York City, but were torn down.Christopher Sadowski
Finer declined to divulge details about the timeline for a possible cessation of fighting, but appeared to suggest that such a scenario was being considered.
“I think both would be necessary to be able to execute the agreement, because executing it would involve moving hostages on what is a very dangerous battlefield in Gaza,” he said on NBC.
“It will allow us to bring more humanitarian assistance to Gaza. That is a priority under any circumstances,” Finer said.
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu hugs his staunch ally, President Biden.REUTERS
Finer stressed that the release of the hostages is “an extraordinarily high priority for everyone” on President Biden’s team.
“We deeply believe that this should be done as soon as possible, and we are putting pressure on diplomacy to try to achieve this,” Finer added to CBS.
At least 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, according to revised government figures. Since then, some 11,500 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza, according to estimates by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, whose reliability is highly questionable.
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