Gal Hirsch

“The negotiation team has been operating in Doha for 18 days. During this extended period, we have come a long way in order to make progress," said Hirsch.

The gaps between Israel and Hamas are narrow, a source familiar with the talks told The Jerusalem Post.

Ruhama Bohbot, mother of hostage Elkana Bohbot, spoke with Netanyahu after Hamas released a video showing her son and another captive alive.

Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi appeared on Saturday morning, looking very frail with sunken faces, leading to comparisons with those liberated from the Holocaust death camps.

Hirsch will update Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the fifth wave of hostage releases while the Israeli leader is meeting with US officials in Washington, DC.

“I’m ready to provide safe passage to Sinwar, his family, whoever wants to join him. We want the hostages back," Israel’s chief negotiator for hostages and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, said.

Hirsch also noted that the war will not end under pressure. “There is a direct correlation between the international pressure on Israel and Hamas' desire to negotiate."

"We do not want to cause collateral damage. Rafah has many people there that Hamas uses right now as human shields," Gal Hirsch stressed.

Hirsch is forbidden to set policy, he must only advise policymakers on policy implementation, neither can he manage civil servants nor give them instructions.

Qatari mediators are working to resolve the issue and avoid any delay in Monday's planned releases, an official briefed on the matter told Reuters.