Atlanta, USA (CNN) – Diplomatic sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN on Friday that “significant progress” had been made in the negotiations to release the hostages held by Hamas, but “there are still outstanding issues.”
The source said: “The negotiations are going very well. We have achieved a breakthrough in this regard.”
The source added: “There are still some issues, but the talks are continuing, and we remain optimistic.”
A source familiar with the meetings said that US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf is visiting Doha to hold meetings with the Qatari leadership.
For his part, a Western official familiar with the hostage negotiations told CNN broadcaster Jeremy Diamond that there is still optimism about the possibility of releasing the hostages, but there is an acknowledgment that time is running out. He indicated that the talks had made progress, but at the same time he stressed that Israel would not postpone its ground invasion for any longer.
In response to a question about the status of the negotiations, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant commented in a press conference on Thursday that “every channel (for negotiation) remains possible.”
“One thing must be clear – we have a goal and I trust the State of Israel and the Israeli army… and we will continue to make every effort to return the hostages and the missing,” Gallant said.
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2023-10-27 13:33:40
