Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is open to negotiating a deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza, according to Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to the White House. Sullivan communicated this during a press conference in Tel Aviv, stating that he believes Netanyahu is eager to finalize such a deal.
At the press conference, Sullivan emphasized that he was not under the impression that Netanyahu was delaying cease-fire discussions with Hamas to wait for the incoming Trump administration. He expressed optimism, saying, “We want to close this deal this month,” indicating urgency in the negotiations.
Sullivan’s remarks followed a meeting he had with the families of American hostages captured by Hamas over 430 days ago during the attacks on October 7, 2023. There are fresh hopes for a hostage deal after a cease-fire agreement involving Jerusalem and Hezbollah was reached last month.
Recent reports suggest Hamas may have agreed to key Israeli demands, including allowing Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to remain in Gaza during a pause in hostilities. Additionally, Hamas has reportedly provided a list of hostages, including Americans, for a potential exchange as part of a cease-fire agreement.
However, it remains uncertain how many hostages might be released or who among the seven Americans still believed to be in Gaza will be included in the negotiations.
Hostage families, both in the U.S. and Israel, have been advocating for Netanyahu to push for a cease-fire and the release of the captives, particularly after a previous deal failed to rescue American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin in August. This sentiment has intensified following the collapse of a cease-fire deal earlier this summer.
On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly called for a cease-fire and the immediate release of all hostages. The resolution received widespread support, passing with 158 votes in favor out of 193 member states. While U.N. resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect global sentiment on ongoing conflicts.
The U.S. and Israel both opposed the resolution. U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood warned that the resolution might send the wrong message to Hamas, suggesting that a lack of negotiation could result from it.
Sullivan noted that Hamas’s approach in negotiations has changed since the recent cease-fire in Lebanon. He is set to visit Qatar and Egypt next to meet with leaders and advance discussions aimed at securing a cease-fire and releasing the hostages.
