US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told Israeli Channel 13 that there is progress regarding reaching an exchange deal for detainees in the Gaza Strip, and that it is close to being achieved.

Sullivan added that the priority is to return the Israeli detainees and reach a ceasefire in Gaza, and stressed that he cannot be certain that this will or will not happen during the next few weeks, but he stressed his determination to achieve this.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced during his visit to Ankara yesterday, Friday, that he saw “encouraging signs” of progress towards a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which was devastated by the war.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that there is a real opportunity to conclude a deal to release detainees in Gaza.

For his part, a senior official in the administration of US President Joe Biden said that President-elect Donald Trump’s call to reach an agreement in Gaza was a major factor in the recent concessions.

NBC quoted the American official as saying that there is confidence not seen since last May in the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 said that a number of families of prisoners in Gaza demonstrated in front of the home of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in occupied Jerusalem.

The channel added that the demonstrators called on Dermer to put pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US administration to conclude an exchange deal.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced during his visit to Ankara yesterday, Friday, that he saw “encouraging signs” of progress towards a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which was devastated by the war.

Blinken called on Türkiye to use its influence so that Hamas would respond “positively” to a ceasefire proposal to contribute to ending this situation.

The Israeli media has highlighted the state of political and popular division regarding the possibilities of concluding a comprehensive deal to recover the prisoners and stop the war on the Gaza Strip, amid escalating discussions regarding the necessity of changing the current approach of the Israeli government to achieve tangible progress in this file.

According to a poll published by Channel 13, the results showed that 65% of Israelis support stopping the war and seeking a comprehensive deal, while 25% oppose this approach, and 10% expressed their lack of knowledge or hesitation.

These results came in light of differing statements by officials and analysts regarding the chances of completing the deal and the extent of the Israeli government’s willingness to make concessions.