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Middle East conflict

Netanyahu announces ‘some progress’ in talks to free hostages from Gaza

According to the Israeli PM, there are three reasons for the progress: the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, strikes at Hezbollah and military pressure on Hamas in Gaza

TEL AVIV, December 23. /TASS/. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced "some progress" in talks on the release of hostages held by radicals in Gaza.

"I would like to tell you carefully that there is some progress at the talks. I don’t know how long this will take," he told lawmakers in parliament.

According to the official, there are three reasons for the progress: the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, strikes at Hezbollah and military pressure on Hamas in Gaza.

"We will continue to act without respite until we bring all the hostages home," Netanyahu said in remarks broadcast the prime minister's office.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7, accompanied by killings of residents of Israeli settlements near the border and taking hostages. Hamas regards the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started delivering strikes on that area and parts of Lebanon and Syria. That was followed by an Israeli ground operation in the enclave, which continues to this day.

In November last year, a humanitarian truce was brokered by Egypt and Qatar, which lasted for a week. During that time, according to Israel, more than 100 hostages were released. On December 1 of the same year, the ceasefire was violated by radicals, hostilities resumed and continue to this day. According to the latest data from Israel, there are still 100 hostages in Gaza.

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