A deal to end the war in Gaza and free hostages held in the Palestinian enclave could be signed in the coming days as talks in Cairo move forward, sources familiar with the process said.
The US administration, joined by mediators from Egypt and Qatar, has been pushing hard in recent days to make progress in the talks before President Joe Biden leaves office next month.
“We believe – and the Israelis have said so – that we are getting closer, no doubt, we believe that, but we are also cautious in our optimism,” White House spokesman John Kirby told Fox News in an interview.
The sources said a ceasefire agreement could be reached within days, with the return of hostages held by the Hamas movement in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Hamas said in a statement that a deal was possible if Israel stopped setting new conditions. A Palestinian official familiar with the process said the talks were serious and every word was being taken seriously.
Sources said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was en route to Cairo, but a statement from his office said the prime minister had a meeting with senior military and security officials on Mount Hermon, a strategic plateau inside Syria.
