US President Joe Biden assured on Tuesday that an agreement to release some hostages taken by Hamas after the October 7 attacks It will close “very soon.”

“We have been working on this intensively for several weeks (…) We are very close to bringing some of these hostages home.“The President said during a speech at the White House.

The US president declined to provide further details until the deal was “completed”, adding that his team was working on it. “intensely” for weeks.

According to US network CNN, the release of some of the more than 200 people held by Hamas may be announced today.

The deal, to be negotiated by Israel and Hamas and brokered by Qatar, will also include a five-day pause in the bombing of the Gaza Strip.

If announced, it would mark the first long pause in the Israeli offensive in the enclave since the war began. It will also facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing on the border between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave.

Netanyahu calls the government

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahuconvened a meeting of the military cabinet and the entire government on Tuesday to consider “Release of hostages.”

“I hope there will be good news soon,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office, as rumors intensified of an imminent deal with the Islamist group Hamas to release a group of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire. temporary fire.

The President first called a meeting with the War Cabinet at 18:00 in Israel, then with the Political and Security Cabinet at 19:00 and finally with the entire government at 20:00.

These meetings were called “in light of developments regarding the release of the hostages”reported in the message.

Israeli media have speculated that the purpose of these meetings is to provide the necessary government approval for the agreement that is being negotiated. USA, Egypt and Qatar.

“We are moving forward.” “I don’t think it’s worth saying too much, even at this moment,” Netanyahu said today, referring to the potential release of the hostages, during a meeting with soldiers.

EFE