JERUSALEM/GAZA - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Israel and Hamas are "closer than ever" to reaching a ceasefire-for-hostage deal, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported.
Speaking at a closed session of the Israeli parliament's Security Committee, Katz said, "We are the closest we've been to a hostage deal since the previous one," referring to an agreement in November-December 2023 that secured the release of 81 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a temporary truce and the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Katz said that the "Philadelphi Corridor," a strip along the border between the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt, and the "Netzarim Corridor," which divides Gaza into northern and southern sectors, "will not pose an obstacle to the execution of the deal."
"There will be an overwhelming majority in the Cabinet and government for a hostage release deal," Katz added. However, key members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition have previously stated their opposition to an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, even under a deal -- a key demand by Hamas.
Negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have produced several proposals over the past year. However, Netanyahu's demand to maintain a military presence in the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors, alongside repeated Israeli rejections of a complete end to the war, has slowed progress.
The current deal under discussion includes multiple stages, Katz said, without providing further details.
Earlier Monday, a senior Hamas official told the Saudi channel Asharq News that the two conflicting sides are "closer than ever" to reaching an agreement. The official claimed that Hamas and other factions had shown "great flexibility" in agreeing to a gradual cessation of hostilities and a withdrawal based on an agreed timeline. He urged the US administration to pressure Netanyahu to finalize the deal.
Heavy price
The densely populated Gaza Strip, home to over 2 million people, continues to see civilians bearing the brunt of relentless attacks and strikes, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Monday.
"Civilians continue to pay a heavy price for the attacks and strikes in Gaza," said Adrian Zimmermann, head of ICRC's sub-delegation in Gaza, in a press statement.
He added, "Last night, once again, we witnessed a staggering number of casualties caused by these attacks across all governorates of Gaza." He noted that the number of those killed and injured in the attacks keeps rising, "deepening the suffering."
"Many remain trapped under the rubble," he continued, "and this comes in the wake of new evacuation orders that further expose civilians to increased suffering and risks." He mentioned that civilians are now searching for shelter, warmth, and food amid low temperatures.
He called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians in Gaza and ensure their safety, emphasizing that international humanitarian law includes obligations of distinction, proportionality, and precaution during attacks, and these principles must be upheld as long as "hostilities continue."
He stressed that all parties to the conflict bear a constant responsibility to "spare civilians the effects of hostilities and ensure their respect and protection."
During the past 24 hours, the Israeli military killed 52 people and wounded 203 others, bringing the total death toll to 45,028 and injuries to 106,962 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out in early October 2023, according to the statement released by Gaza's health authorities on Monday.
Infants at risk
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) issued a stark warning on Monday, highlighting the critical risk to thousands of infants in the Gaza Strip due to a severe shortage of infant formula.
According to the agency, more than 8,500 infants in Gaza depend on formula provided through UNRWA, but current supplies are drastically insufficient. One of the few functioning UNRWA health centers in southern Gaza has just six boxes of formula left for distribution.
"With over 200,000 people relying on this center for primary healthcare, the acute shortage of supplies places many, including infants, in grave danger," the agency said.
UNRWA emphasized that the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and a ceasefire are essential to preventing further loss of life.
Despite limited resources and overwhelming needs, the agency also announced continued support for the most vulnerable in Khan Younis, including providing winter clothes and hygiene supplies to children at the UNRWA Center for Rehabilitation of Children with Visual Impairments.
