![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/View-of-collapsed-heavily-damaged-buildings-after-an-Israeli-airstrike-in-Gaza-5078439.jpg?r=1700603641830\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Hopes for a breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas war rose last night after sources said a hostage and ceasefire deal was the \u201cclosest it has been\u201d.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected \u201cgood news soon\u201d on the release of captives in Gaza, following weeks of secret talks.<\/p>\n
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said a truce was \u201cclose\u201d and talks mediated by Gulf state Qatar were said to be entering \u201cfinal stages\u201d.<\/p>\n
It is the first glimmer of hope in the bloody conflict that began on October 7 and has claimed 15,000 lives, mainly innocent people.<\/p>\n
If agreed, the deal could free as many as 50 of 240 civilians held by Hamas. In exchange, Israel would pause its ground invasion for up to five days and release Palestinians held in custody.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Gaza hospital \u2018has been turned into death zone\u2019 but cease fire hopes rise<\/strong><\/p>\n Sources close to the talks said a number of Palestinian women and children would also be released from prisons.<\/p>\n It could also let the biggest flow of humanitarian aid into the obliterated territory since Hamas terrorists entered Israel and slaughtered about 1,400 people in a dawn rampage seven weeks ago.<\/p>\n Qatari government spokesman Majed Al Ansari said: \u201cWe are now at the closest point we ever have been in reaching an agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very optimistic, we are very hopeful, but we are also very keen for this mediation to succeed in reaching a humanitarian truce.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel believes at least 240 hostages of 20 nationalities, including 30 children, are being held.<\/p>\n Mr Netanyahu, who assembled his war cabinet last night, said: \u201cWe are making progress. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s worth saying too much, not even at this moment, but I hope there will be good news soon.\u201d<\/p>\n The US, which has also had top-level private talks, said it marked the \u201cclosest we\u2019ve been\u201d to a hostage deal. President Joe Biden also stated an agreement was near.<\/p>\n The captives are believed to include Israeli-Irish girl Emily Hand, nine. She was initially feared to have been murdered but is now thought to be hidden in Gaza.<\/p>\n Her Dublin-born father Thomas, 63, called the news \u201ca blessing\u201d.<\/p>\n Earlier he said: \u201cShe must be saying, \u2018Where\u2019s my daddy? Where\u2019s daddy?\u2019. That\u2019s what I\u2019m living through \u2013 it\u2019s a nightmare.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Israel-soldiers-transfer-detained-Palestinians-out-of-the-Gaza-Strip-5078451.jpg?r=1700603641926\"){kind=spacer}
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/IDF-aircraft-struck-approximately-250-Hamas-terror-targets-5078452.jpg?r=1700603641998\")
<\/p>\n\n