Senior Israeli defense official: After extended impasse, Hamas now open to hostage deal that doesn’t end war

After months of impasse, a senior Israeli defense official says that for the first time in a long time, there is a good chance to reach a hostage deal with the Hamas terror group.

Hamas is under a lot of pressure but refuses to surrender, the official says, adding that the terror group is potentially interested in a deal.

The official says Israel is closer to reaching a deal due to a change in Hamas’s position.

Hamas is ready to agree to a deal that doesn’t include announcing an official end to the war in Gaza, according to the official.

The potential deal will include a first-stage 42-day ceasefire, in which a number of hostages will be released.

Hours later, a member of Israel’s negotiating team tells the Kan public broadcaster that the claims made by the senior defense official in a briefing with reporters were inaccurate. Kan’s source adds that he has no idea what the anonymous briefer is talking about and that no such optimism exists among those actually involved in the negotiations.