President Joe Biden delivered a promising update on the hostage deal negotiations between Israel and Hamas and the Gaza ceasefire discussions overnight (between Thursday and Friday), declaring that "real progress" has been achieved, with the possibility of completion before Jan. 20.
The outgoing president revealed he had met earlier with key negotiators while identifying Hamas as the current obstacle to finalizing the deal. Despite this challenge, Biden remained optimistic about the prospects of reaching an agreement. In a separate diplomatic development, Biden mentioned his conversation with Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, whom he praised as "the right leader" for the country.
In a parallel development, families of the hostages convened Thursday with Gal Hirsch, the Prime Minister's Office coordinator for captives and missing persons. During the meeting, Hirsch assured family representatives that despite its phased implementation, the agreement under discussion in Qatar encompasses all hostages. He further emphasized the ongoing coordination with both the outgoing and incoming US administrations to ensure seamless continuity as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office.
The diplomatic momentum continued as President Isaac Herzog met with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia Thursday, where discussions included the international community's efforts to secure the hostages' return.
