Report: US supports release of 6 hostages instead of scheduled 3

The United States supports Israel in its effort to secure the release of the six remaining living hostages scheduled to be released in stage one of the hostage deal, according to a report by i24 reporter Amichai Stein.

According to Channel 12 reporter Yaron Avraham, the Prime Minister is currently convening a situation assessment discussion, a teleconference set for 7:00 PM this evening, 12:00 noon US time. This timing is not coincidental - it's the hour when President Trump said Hamas should release all hostages.

According to Avraham, Israel reportedly believes that Trump's statements provide the negotiating team leverage to demand the return of the six remaining living hostages at this stage together, in one phase - either by Saturday or perhaps even earlier. Some argue that it may be possible to receive bodies at an earlier stage.

Meanwhile, Israel is not allowing caravans into Gaza. As not many pressure levers remain, the caravans may be the last one for use, except of course for returning to fighting.

Israel is thus trying to explain to the mediators that all sides have an interest in continuing the releases, and therefore need to convene to extend Phase A and implement what are called the "Ramadan phases." More hostages would be released - especially those known in Israel to be in poor condition - in exchange for extending the ceasefire.

However, the negotiating team and senior defense officials say: The most important thing is to complete Phase A, and we've reached the most fragile stage of the deal. Another tense week like this could collapse it, so there's no choice but to hold discussions about Phase B, even if it will be in a different format. We need to start talking to prevent the agreement from collapsing and to make it possible to discuss extending Phase A. This is their position.