As the Israel-Hamas war continues to rage in the Gaza Strip, President Joe Biden has yet again indicated progress in the deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of around 240 hostages taken captive during Hamas' October 7 attack.
The talks of the deal, mediated by Qatar, have been ongoing since Hamas's attack that marked the deadliest day in Israel's history and led to Israel's military incursion into Gaza.
The proposed deal involves the exchange of 50 hostages for a three-day ceasefire, allowing for increased emergency aid to reach Gaza's civilians.
=White House and Israeli officials earlier refuted claims of a finalized deal amid speculation, though they have indicated progress.
The stakes on the deal are high as relatives of the hostages held by Hamas are appealing to Israeli lawmakers to avoid escalating tensions, particularly concerning discussions around capital punishment for captured Palestinian militants, which could jeopardize the safety of the captives.
Since the war broke out, over 13,300 Palestinians, including at least 5,600 children and 3,550 women, have been killed as per Gaza's Hamas-run government.
(With inputs from agencies)