Sources involved in the negotiations for a hostage deal with Hamas claim that the chances of a hostage release deal are almost nil,  following Hamas’s statement that it will not agree to compromise on anything less than ending the war, Walla reported on Tuesday.

A senior Israeli official said: “The truth must be told – there will be no deal now. Not a small one, not a large one, and not even a crumb. The big question is whether the time has come to save the remaining hostages and end the war in Gaza.”

“That’s the entire discussion, and that’s what’s happening behind the scenes. There will be no deal without a decision to end the war in Gaza. We need to acknowledge the facts.”

Israeli intelligence officials estimate that only 51 of the 101 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza are still alive.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)