With Iran-backed Bashar al-Assad leaving Syria and Hezbollah agreeing to a ceasefire, the Hamas has been cornered in Gaza, raising speculations that the militants could soon accept a truce with Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday told the relatives of the hostages held in Gaza that the ouster of Assad regime could expediate the release of the captives.
One of hostage family groups Netanyahu spoke to on Sunday evening was the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, who represents the most of the families. Another group called the Tikva Forum was more supportive of the government.
A senior Biden adminstration official also said Assad's ouster could help secure a truce as the balance of power in the region changed dramatically.
The negotiations have failed since the release of 105 hostages in November 2023 during a weeklong ceasefire. Around 96 more people are believed to be in Hamas captivity currently and a third of these hostages are feared dead. IDF rescued eight hostages since October 7, 2023 while 38 bodies have been recovered.
This comes as Hamas released a three-minute video of hostage, Matan Zangauker. The 25-year-old, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, urges the people in Israel to continue protests to seek a truce with Hamas. His partner, Ilana Gritzewsky, was released in November 2023.
Earlier, another hostage, Edan Alexander, was seen speaking in a similar propaganda video. He is a dual citizen of Israel and the US.
Trump recently said that he believes that most of the remaining hostages in Gaza might not be alive. Pointing out he has seen the way they have been treated, Trump recalled a young girl being pulled by hair and thrown into the back of a car. He is believed to be referring to Israeli soldier Naama Levy who was seen in a video being shoved into an IDF vehicle.
Hamas reportedly asked the militants in Gaza to prepare a list of hostages held in Syria ahead of negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt.