Mossad Chief: Prisoner Deal Will Only Happen with Settlement on Civilian Return to Northern Gaza

Israeli Mossad Chief David Barnea informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the hostage deal will only occur through an agreement on the return of Palestinian civilians to northern Gaza. According to a report from Channel 13, Netanyahu has not yet made a decision, but war cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot indicated that he believes there is room for Israel to be flexible on this issue. The newspaper "Haaretz" cited an Israeli source confirming that talks have reached a deadlock because Hamas refused to show any flexibility regarding its demands to allow all residents of northern Gaza to return and its conditions for releasing more prisoners, which include Israel's commitment to end the release of prisoners and withdraw all Israeli military forces from Gaza. Israel has firmly rejected both of these demands.