US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said today (Tuesday) that the hostage deal with Hamas is close, but not final, adding that the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians does not depend on the hostage deal.

According to Reuters, Miller told reporters that it had been clear for some time that the release of the hostages would open the possibility of delivering more humanitarian aid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the government, on Thursday, to accept an agreement to release hostages held by Hamas during its attack on October 7, stressing that it was “a difficult decision, but the right decision.”

According to Agence France-Presse, Netanyahu said during a government meeting aimed at making a decision regarding the agreement that US President Joe Biden helped “improve the broad outlines presented to you... so that (the agreement) includes a larger number of hostages at a lower price.” .

Netanyahu stressed that Israel will continue its war against Hamas, even if a temporary ceasefire is reached to release the hostages, according to what was reported by the Associated Press.

The Israeli Prime Minister pledged to move forward. He added: “We are at war, and we will continue the war.” We will continue until we achieve all our goals.

The Israeli Cabinet is expected to vote on a plan that would halt the Israeli attack on Gaza for several days in exchange for the release of about 50 of the 240 hostages held by Hamas.

Israel pledged to continue the war until the military capabilities of Hamas are destroyed and all hostages are returned.

Netanyahu's statements came at a time when it seemed that Israel and Hamas were on the verge of reaching an agreement to temporarily stop their devastating war that has been going on for 6 weeks so that dozens of hostages held in the Gaza Strip could be released, in exchange for the release of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.< /p>

Netanyahu told Israeli forces during a visit to a training base earlier Tuesday: “We are advancing.” He added: “I hope there will be good news soon.”

Netanyahu's office said that the three-member Special Defense Cabinet met on Tuesday, and will be followed by meetings of the security cabinet, a forum for senior security officials, and the full cabinet.

Israeli media reported that the agreement would include stopping the Israeli attack on Gaza for 5 days and releasing 50 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for about 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israeli Channel 12 TV said that the first releases will occur on Thursday or Friday and will continue for several days.