Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel had pressured Hamas to the extent that a hostage deal with the Iranian-backed group might be possible.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday (December 4) that Israel had pressured Hamas to the extent that a hostage deal with the Iranian-backed group might be possible. Speaking to soldiers at an air force base in central Israel,

Defense Minister Israel Katz says during a visit to the Tel Nof Airbase that “there is a chance that this time we can really advance a hostage deal” with Hamas. “The most important thing today in the war is to bring the hostages home.

Hamas said it had information that Israel intended to carry out a hostage rescue operation similar to one conducted in Gaza's Nuseirat camp in June and threatened to "neutralize" the captives if such an operation took place,