Whilst there are many, many people who are third parties who are sending optimistic messages to the news reels, I’m saying outright: according to my knowledge, up to now, there is no real substantial information that is showing any real offer of any process on the table. There is no real proposal that is viable from Hamas’ side on this issue. In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Herzog said there was no deal on the table to secure the freedom of the hostages taken on 7 October. Israel has not received a substantial offer from Hamas on a deal to free the hostages being held in Gaza, its president, Isaac Herzog, has said, rejecting reports of an impending deal. Kirby went on to say that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants is not in order because it would help Hamas and “legitimise what they did on 7 October and we simply are not going to stand for that at this time.” He described the news as “significant first steps” and that the US would “want to see them continued for as long as they are needed”. We understand that Israel will begin to implement four-hour pauses in areas of northern Gaza with an announcement to come three hours in advance. We’ve been told by the Israelis that there will be no military operations in these areas over the duration of the pause, and that this process is starting today. The pauses resulted from discussions between US and Israel officials in recent days, including between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu, he said. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the pauses will begin today to allow people to flee hostilities and for deliveries of humanitarian aid, Reuters reported.

Here’s more on the White House’s announcement that Israel will begin four-hour pauses in fighting in northern Gaza. 17.07 CET White House says daily pauses are 'significant first steps' US 'does not stand for' ceasefire

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