Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in an interview with NDTV, stated bluntly, "Hamas will not release all the hostages, which is the only asset they still hold" unless it is guaranteed that the war is finished.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel is open to negotiating a permanent ceasefire in Gaza during a proposed 60-day truce, contingent on the territory's demilitarization. Negotiations began in Doha,

As Israel and Hamas move closer to a ceasefire agreement, Israel says it wants to maintain troops in a southern corridor of the Gaza Strip — a condition that could derail the talks.