By Zein Khalil
JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Sunday that negotiations are taking place “behind the scenes” to secure the return of Israelis held captive in the Gaza Strip.
“Now, with an agreement reached regarding the northern border with Lebanon, it is time to finalize a deal and bring the hostages home” from Gaza, Herzog said during a meeting with the family of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza.
He added that negotiations were taking place “behind the scenes.”
“Now is the opportunity to bring about a meaningful change that will lead to a deal to free the hostages,” he added.
On Saturday, Palestinian resistance group Hamas released a video of Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage pleading to US President-elect Donald Trump to intervene to secure his release and other captives.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar claimed early Sunday that there were indications of progress in a potential hostage exchange deal with Palestinians.
“There are indications regarding a cease-fire with Hamas. We may see a greater degree of flexibility on their part. In my opinion, we will know in the coming days,” Sa’ar told a conference hosted by Israel Hayom newspaper.
The Israeli opposition, families of the hostages, and a large portion of the Israeli public have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing a deal with Hamas for the return of the hostages and the end of the Gaza war.
They argue that Netanyahu fears losing his government due to threats from far-right ministers to withdraw from the coalition if such a deal is struck.
Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to reach a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed over Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the war.
Israel has launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack last October, killing more than 44,400 people, most of them women and children, and injuring over 105,000.
The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.
On Nov. 21, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala