Israel, Hamas move closer on Gaza cease-fire deal

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Cease-fire talks between Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Israeli government have made progress in recent days, raising hopes a deal could be reached to release some of the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip and pause fighting that has dragged on for 15 months. “We are close to a deal and it can get done this week," U.S.

national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday. Arab mediators and Israeli officials have also said there has been progress in the talks while cautioning there are still gaps to be bridged. A deal would at least pause the war triggered by the Hamas-led Oct.

7, 2023, attacks that left around 1,200 dead and some 250 people taken hostage, while freeing some of the hostages who are still being held in Gaza. More than 46,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip during the war, according to Palestinian health authorities, who don’t say how many were combatants. Talks to pause the fighting between Israel and Hamas have been stalled for months, with the two sides split on the fundamental question of whether any cease-fire should become permanent, as Hamas insists, or allow a return to military action, as Israel wants.

Previous moments where agreements seemed close have ended in disappointment. Both sides have been under pressure to come to terms as the U.S. presidential transition nears.

President-elect Donald Trump said a week ago that “all hell will break out in the Middle East" if the hostages aren’t released by the time he takes office on Jan. 20, repeating a threat he had made earlier. He hasn’t explained what he means, but said last week it wouldn’t be good for Hamas or “frankly, for anyone." Trump’s designated Middle East envoy, real-estate