“There is a chance. There are contacts – and there are developments,” an Israeli official said in a brief conversation with The Jerusalem Post on the potential for a hostage deal.

Last night, a meeting was held, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, focusing on the negotiations for a hostage deal. Following the meeting, there is reportedly a sense that progress might be possible toward a new agreement based on the Steve Witkoff framework, which involves the release of 10 hostages in return for 60 days of ceasefire.

In recent days, Hamas has been drafting a new response to the Witkoff framework, which some are calling a new proposal.

Pressure on Hamas to accept a Gaza ceasefire deal

Behind the scenes, there is heavy Qatari pressure on Hamas, as well as involvement from Witkoff, the American mediator appointed by President Donald Trump, along with Bishara Bahbah, who has been in Qatar in recent weeks and is in dialogue with senior Hamas officials.
Sources familiar with the details told the Post they believe Hamas’s response could potentially lead to a breakthrough in the negotiations.

Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Persons, told the families of the hostages over the weekend: “Alongside the intensive operations of the IDF and Shin Bet in the Gaza Strip, efforts and contacts for a hostage deal are ongoing through various channels, with a strong emphasis on maintaining secrecy and information security.”

Trump said last night after a 40-minute phone call with Netanyahu: “We are in the midst of negotiations between us, Israel, and Hamas. We’ll see what happens with Gaza. We want to bring the hostages back.”