JERUSALEM: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers on Monday that “some progress” had been made in negotiations to secure the release of prisoners held in Gaza.

His comments in parliament come two days after three Palestinian fighter groups said in a rare joint statement that a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza conflict and to exchange prisoners was “closer than ever.”

In recent days, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement, more than 14 months into the Gaza conflict.

“Everything we are doing cannot be disclosed. We are taking actions to bring them back. I wish to say cautiously that there has been some progress, and we will not stop acting until we bring them all home,” Netanyahu said in parliament.

“I want to say to the families of the hostages: We are thinking of you and we will not give up on your loved ones, who are our loved ones as well.”

On Saturday, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in a joint statement that progress had been made to reach a ceasefire deal.

“The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions,” the three groups said after they held talks in Cairo a day earlier.

In his address to lawmakers, Netanyahu also warned the Houthi rebels of Yemen, who last week fired two missiles at Israel, including one that injured 16 people in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2024