Despite Trump’s optimism, Israel and Hamas said sticking to their guns in hostage talks

A senior Israeli official denies to the Walla news site that there has been any breakthrough in the hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, after US President Donald Trump said he believes a deal will be reached “within the next week.”

The official is quoted as saying there has been no significant shift in the stances of Israel and Hamas on the key points of contention, including the terror group’s demand for guarantees that the war in Gaza will end.

Channel 12 reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold a consultation with senior officials tomorrow on potential progress toward a hostage-ceasefire deal. It says Israel had indicated a certain flexibility in recent indirect contacts, but is still awaiting any sign of Hamas flexibility on the key issues preventing a new deal.

It says Netanyahu aims to be in Washington in early or mid-July, amid Trump’s efforts to reach a deal in Gaza and advance potential normalization efforts with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and other possible Abraham Accords partners.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is expected to fly to Washington on Monday for talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and others.