Netanyahu says 'some progress' in Gaza hostage talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there is "some progress" in the negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of hostages. He told a Knesset session on December 23.

"There is some progress in the hostage exchange negotiations. I don't know how long it will take," he noted.

Netanyahu emphasized that the progress is due to military pressure on Hamas in Gaza and the death of Yahya Sinwar, head of the politburo of the radical Hamas movement. Netanyahu added that swift action will continue until all hostages are returned home.

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Earlier on Dec. 18, the radical Palestinian Hamas movement agreed to release sick and elderly hostages. This was reported to be a "significant breakthrough" in one of the issues concerning the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Israel began retaliatory strikes the same day.

The Palestinians intend to return the borders between the two countries that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, with possible land swaps. Palestine wants to establish its state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and make East Jerusalem its capital. Israel refuses these conditions.