Despite his tough attitude Benjamin Netanyahu the government of Israel is considering the conclusion of an agreement with Hamas in order to free all Israeli civilians held hostage in the Gaza Strip.

According to the New York Times, Hamas and Israel two proposals are being negotiated hostage release, with the US newspaper citing officials with knowledge of the talks. Qatar is the main mediator in the talks, while senior US officials are also participating, the report said.

According to one of the proposals being discussed, Hamas will release 10 to 20 civilian hostages – including Israeli women and children as well as foreigners, including Americans – in exchange for a brief cessation of fighting, an official said. This could be followed by release of approximately 100 civilians, if conditions are met, they said.

In return, Hamas is asking for a brief pause, more humanitarian aid, fuel for Gaza’s emergency hospitals and the liberation of women and children who are in Israeli prisons, according to the source. An official said Israeli authorities have expressed uncertainty about releasing their prisoners.

Hamas and other Palestinian groups they are holding around 240 people hostage in Gaza, according to the IDF. Fewer than half of them are civilians, an official said. Hamas has refused to release any of the military-age Israeli men it is holding in Gaza, officials said.

“Hostage negotiations will take time”

IDF spokesman Vice Admiral Daniel Haggari commented on media reports of possible deals with Hamas, according to which the terrorist group would release some of the hostages it is holding.

“We are constantly working and energetically to return the hostages,” Hagari said at a press conference on Friday night.

“These procedures are complex, they will still need time. We will not miss a single opportunity to return the hostages home,” he pointed out.

Hagari urged the public not to rely on reports of hostage deals that do not come directly from the IDF.

“The Israeli army he will first inform the families of the hostages if there is a development, and then he will inform publicly” he clarified.