Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday evening to call for the release of captives held in the Gaza Strip. As indirect talks between Israel and Hamas began in Qatar, the imminent arrival of Donald Trump in the White House and the release of a hostage video revived hopes.

Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in the first phase of the ceasefire-hostage agreement being negotiated in Doha in relation to the situation in Gaza, CNN reported on

Storyline: The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on Thursday that the government has delayed a vote on the Gaza ceasefire deal, as Hamas has reneged on parts of the agreement in trying to extort Israel to make concessions at the last minute.

Israeli negotiators attending ceasefire and hostage release talks in Doha have expressed “cautious optimism,” even as some gaps between both sides persist, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, his office said Saturday, in a sign of progress in talks on the war in Gaza.

Israel has continued its bombardment of Gaza near continuously since the outbreak of the war in the enclave in October 2023.

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding

Washington optimistic on chances of closing agreement to release Israelis held by Hamas before end of Biden's term; Netanyahu huddles with security chiefs to discuss negotiations