Negotiations Progress in Efforts to Secure Release of Hamas-held Hostages
Intense talks to free hostages held by Hamas are reaching a critical stage, with parties narrowing their differences Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer highlights significant progress in negotiations
Negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas are nearing completion with reduced disagreements among the involved parties, according to deputy national security adviser Jon Finer. Speaking on "State of the Union" with CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday, Finer stated that they believe they are now closer to a resolution than at any previous point during the weeks-long negotiations. However, he emphasized that these are delicate talks and an agreement has not yet been reached.
Officials are working tirelessly around the clock to prioritize President Joe Biden's commitment, although further details regarding the talks were not revealed by Finer. However, it has been apparent for several days that Israel and Hamas are progressing towards an agreement to secure the release of hostages who were taken during the Hamas attacks on Israel. This agreement would be contingent upon a sustained cessation of hostilities spanning over multiple days.
Only a few hostages have been freed since the war commenced. The parties involved in negotiations, namely Israel, Hamas, and the US, along with Qatar as the mediator, have been addressing various challenges. These challenges encompass determining the duration of a potential ceasefire and the quantity of hostages to be released, according to sources familiar with the discussions cited by CNN.
Earlier on Sunday, Qatar's prime minister also expressed that there has been "notable progress" in the negotiations over the past few days. He acknowledged that the remaining obstacles are primarily related to practical and logistical issues rather than fundamental aspects of the agreement.
When questioned about the number of hostages that the US government believes are still alive, Finer replied that they do not possess precise figures but asserted, "We are confident that a considerable number of Americans are currently being held."
"We are faced with a challenge as we are not physically present in Gaza, the United States. Our communication with Hamas is solely through intermediaries. Therefore, we lack precise information regarding the exact number of hostages, including those who are still alive," he stated.
Moreover, Finer emphasized that the United States is actively collecting data about the attacks on a UN-operated school in Gaza, which was functioning as a refuge, during the weekend.
"At this juncture, I can confirm that we have been in contact with Israeli officials to gather information regarding the incident. However, it is imperative to emphasize that any harm inflicted upon innocent civilians seeking refuge at a UN facility is utterly unacceptable," stated Finer.
Reported by CNN's Alex Marquardt, Kaitlan Collins, MJ Lee, and Oren Liebermann.
