Hamas has yet to give answer to hostage deal draft, official says

Hamas has not yet given a written response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal under negotiation in Qatar, an official from the group, who refused to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli officials said that Hamas had given the green light to go ahead with the hostage deal, with attempts to reach a final deal expected by Wednesday night or Thursday.

“We are super close,” a source told The Jerusalem Post.

The same source said the security cabinet and government are expected to convene on Thursday.

The main negotiators in Doha, Mossad chief David Barnea (left), Secretary of State Antony Blinken (center lefet), Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (center right), Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya (right), (illustrative). (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90, Canva, MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS, REUTERS/KEVIN MOHATT, REUTERS/YAMAM AL SHAAR)

Netanyahu to hold further consultations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a security consultation with the Israeli negotiating team in Doha later today, an Israeli source tells the Post.

Earlier, a source with knowledge of the matter told The Jerusalem Post that the issues at hand in the hostage deal negotiations currently ongoing in Qatar could be resolved.

“Contrary to reports, the terrorist organization Hamas has not yet returned its response to the deal,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Reuters contributed to this report.