(VOVWORLD) -Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers on Monday that some progress had been made in negotiations to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, adding that Israel will not stop acting until they are all brought home.
 Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Reuters) |
His remarks corresponded with comments by the Israeli diaspora minister, Amichai Chikli, who said both issues were still being negotiated. Nonetheless, he said, the sides were far closer to reaching agreement than they have been for months.
Chikli said the first stage would be a humanitarian phase that will last 42 days and include a hostage release. The identity of some of the Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in return for hostages had yet to be agreed, along with the precise deployment of Israeli troops in Gaza, according to an official.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday called on the US and France to help speed up the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon before the end of the 60 days stipulated in the ceasefire agreement for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanese territories.
He urged the committee responsible for overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to exert pressure on Israel over its repeat violations of the truce agreement.