US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that progress is being made towards the return of hostages in Gaza, adding that he is in contact with both Israel and “nasty group”Hamas.“We’re getting close to getting them back,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting.
“A lot came back. A lot of people are very grateful. Some came back in pretty bad shape. They’re okay. I think they’re going to be scarred mentally for a long time because if you sit down and talk to them, as I have, what they went through is incredible” he said, quoted by Times of Israel.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, also gave families of the hostages a similar update, saying, “a real serious deal is on the table and it’s a matter of a few days.”
According to Kan radio, Israel and Egypt exchanged draft proposals aiming to bridge an Egyptian ceasefire plan with a US-backed version.
The Egyptian plan reportedly includes the release of eight living hostages and eight bodies in exchange for a 40–70 day truce and the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners. Witkoff had earlier proposed a two-month ceasefire in return for the release of five hostages and a large number of Palestinian detainees.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a situation review with Israeli security chiefs on Thursday and met the families of hostages Elkana Bohbot and Rom Braslavski. His office reaffirmed Israel’s objectives, to return all hostages, eliminate Hamas, and prevent Gaza from threatening Israel again.
Since the war began on October 7, 2023 — when Hamas launched a deadly cross-border attack that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Hamas has released 139 people during temporary truces.
During the weeklong truce in late November 2023, the terror released 105 civilian hostages, while four more were freed earlier in the war. Between January and March, the group released another 30 hostages, including 20 Israeli civilians, five soldiers, and five Thai nationals, as well as the bodies of eight Israeli captives.
In return, Israel has released around 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including convicted terrorists, security prisoners, and Gazans arrested during the conflict.
“A lot came back. A lot of people are very grateful. Some came back in pretty bad shape. They’re okay. I think they’re going to be scarred mentally for a long time because if you sit down and talk to them, as I have, what they went through is incredible” he said, quoted by Times of Israel.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, also gave families of the hostages a similar update, saying, “a real serious deal is on the table and it’s a matter of a few days.”
According to Kan radio, Israel and Egypt exchanged draft proposals aiming to bridge an Egyptian ceasefire plan with a US-backed version.
The Egyptian plan reportedly includes the release of eight living hostages and eight bodies in exchange for a 40–70 day truce and the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners. Witkoff had earlier proposed a two-month ceasefire in return for the release of five hostages and a large number of Palestinian detainees.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a situation review with Israeli security chiefs on Thursday and met the families of hostages Elkana Bohbot and Rom Braslavski. His office reaffirmed Israel’s objectives, to return all hostages, eliminate Hamas, and prevent Gaza from threatening Israel again.
Since the war began on October 7, 2023 — when Hamas launched a deadly cross-border attack that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Hamas has released 139 people during temporary truces.
During the weeklong truce in late November 2023, the terror released 105 civilian hostages, while four more were freed earlier in the war. Between January and March, the group released another 30 hostages, including 20 Israeli civilians, five soldiers, and five Thai nationals, as well as the bodies of eight Israeli captives.
In return, Israel has released around 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including convicted terrorists, security prisoners, and Gazans arrested during the conflict.
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