Reports from Israel's Channel 13 suggest a breakthrough in hostage talks after Israel showed more flexibility on a temporary military withdrawal. Sources indicate PM Netanyahu seeks a deal but not an end to the war.

A potential breakthrough in negotiations for a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas has emerged following what a senior Israeli official described as newfound flexibility on withdrawing troops from Gaza, paving the way for a possible agreement, Israel’s Channel 13 News reported Tuesday.

Sources familiar with the details of the negotiations in Qatar told Channel 13 News that "the way has been paved for a deal" after a week and a half of indirect talks in Doha.

According to the report, the significant progress made in the last 24 hours came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the cabinet approved a more flexible position on the Israeli military’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, moving closer to Hamas’s stance on the issue.

However, senior Israeli officials clarified to Channel 13 that the proposal is for a temporary withdrawal lasting 60 days, with the full intention of resuming fighting once the ceasefire period concludes.

An Israeli source familiar with the details told the news channel that this flexibility paves the way for an agreement. The same sources added that their impression from discussions is that the Prime Minister "is very keen on a deal in the coming days but is not interested in ending the war."

This development follows earlier reports from Channel 13 News where a senior Israeli minister stated, "Netanyahu is going for a deal in the coming days."

In an effort to close remaining disagreements, sources in Jerusalem told the Israeli news outlet that new maps detailing the IDF's withdrawal have been transferred as part of the proposed 60-day ceasefire. Following intensive negotiations, the gap between Israel and Hamas on territorial issues is reportedly narrowing, according to the sources cited by Channel 13.

The current negotiations are rooted in the conflict that began on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking around 250 others hostage, according to Israeli figures cited by international media like Reuters and the Associated Press.

In response, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in the Gaza Strip with the stated goals of dismantling Hamas and securing the return of all remaining hostages. The ensuing war has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory reporting tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, as reported by the Associated Press.

Previous rounds of negotiations, mediated primarily by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, resulted in a week-long truce in late November. That deal saw the release of over 100 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.