US-Israel hostage deal expected to be finalized soon

A senior US official has stated that a deal to release the hostages taken from Israel during Hamas's attacks last month is nearing completion. The National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, expressed hope while acknowledging that there is still work to be done. US President Joe Biden also believes that an agreement is close. Approximately 240 people were kidnapped in the Hamas attacks on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis. In response, Israel launched a retaliatory campaign, resulting in the deaths of around 13,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. There have been increasing indications recently that a deal to secure the release of hostages is imminent, including statements from Qatar, which played a crucial role in the release of four hostages last month. Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has traveled to Qatar to address humanitarian issues related to the conflict. While the ICRC does not participate in direct negotiations for hostage release, it facilitates releases once an agreement has been reached. So far, the ICRC has facilitated the release of four hostages - two elderly Israeli women and a mother and daughter who are US nationals. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has stated that only minor obstacles remain in securing a deal. The Israeli ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, has also expressed optimism about a deal being reached in the coming days. It is speculated that Israel and Hamas may consider a phased release, including an initial release of a small number of hostages alongside a ceasefire. Suggestions have also been made that the release of Palestinian prisoners, particularly women and minors, could be part of the deal package. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously ruled out a ceasefire until all hostages are released, and the Israeli military's operation in Gaza aims to eliminate Hamas. The bodies of two hostages, Yehudit Weiss and soldier Noa Marciano, were discovered in the Gaza Strip last week. Tensions have risen between the families of hostages and Israeli politicians, with some families leaving a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other politicians after being told that securing the release was not the main priority. In another incident, relatives confronted far-right members of the Israeli government who proposed legislation allowing the use of the death penalty against Hamas, arguing that it could endanger hostages. The relatives accused these politicians of fueling violence and hate. The trust of the families in the government has been shattered, and they believe that the release of hostages is crucial to restoring trust and belief in their country.