US President Joe Biden expressed optimism about a hostage deal as Israel’s government was set to meet to approve a four day pause in the Gaza war in exchange for the release of 50 hostages.
“We’re now very close, very close. We could bring some of these hostages home very soon,” Biden told reporters in Washington.
“I don’t want to get into the details of the thing, because nothing is done until it’s done, but things are looking good.”
US officials, including Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have been directly involved in efforts to secure the release of over 239 captives, which Hamas seized when it infiltrated southern Israel on October 7.
There are passport holders from 33 countries held in Gaza, including those with US citizenship.