Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz informed U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday of a “current chance” to secure a deal for the release of hostages taken in the October 2023 Hamas attack. According to a statement from Katz’s office, the deal could include the return of all hostages, including American citizens.
During the call, the two officials also addressed regional security concerns. They discussed developments in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and Israel’s recent seizure of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Both agreed on the need to counter Iran’s weapons shipments and committed to cooperating to prevent arms smuggling to Lebanon via Syria.
Meanwhile, Israeli security leaders, including Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, held talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Tuesday. The discussions, initially focused on the Gaza-Egypt border, also explored potential agreements with Hamas for the release of the remaining 96 hostages.
An Israeli official highlighted the improved prospects for a deal, noting a shift in Hamas’ willingness to negotiate. “Two weeks ago, I thought Hamas didn’t want a deal. Now, I believe it has changed its stance,” the official told the Times of Israel. The official suggested that an agreement might be reached before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Negotiations had previously stalled following a November 2023 deal that freed 105 hostages. Renewed talks, influenced by regional developments and Trump’s warnings of consequences if hostages are not released, have renewed hopes for progress.