Netanyahu to Convene Cabinet as Gaza Hostage Deal Gets Close.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene Israel's cabinet to discuss a potential deal with Hamas to free hostages in Gaza in exchange for a temporary pause in fighting. Netanyahu expressed optimism about the progress being made and hopes for good news soon. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh also indicated that negotiations were moving forward with the help of Qatar. US President Joe Biden stated that a deal is "very close" and has a high chance of being finalized. Israel has previously stated that it will not consider a ceasefire until all hostages are returned, but recent developments suggest that a deal may be imminent. The negotiations are being mediated by Qatar, and the talks are currently at a critical stage. However, there is no guarantee of success, as previous talks have fallen through. International pressure is mounting on Israel to end its offensive in Gaza, with calls for an urgent ceasefire from Arab and Muslim delegations and leaders of major emerging nations. The United Nations has highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for increased aid. The US has urged Israel to consider the territory's humanitarian needs and expects an interim security arrangement in Gaza after the conflict. There are also concerns about the conflict escalating into a wider Middle East conflict, as exchanges of fire continue along Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Israeli warplanes recently struck targets in Lebanon after Hezbollah fighters attacked a military post, resulting in civilian casualties. [Extracted from the article]