Israel president: Hamas has made no ‘viable’ proposal on hostages

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a Thursday interview there has been no “viable” offer from Hamas to free the roughly 240 hostages in its custody.

“There is no real proposal that is viable from Hamas’s side on this issue,” Herzog said in an interview with NBC News, speaking from his office in Jerusalem.

He denied any reports that there has been progress made with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel’s southern border Oct. 7, killing about 1,400 Israelis and taking about 240 hostages.

“Whilst there are many, many people who are third parties who are sending optimistic messages to the newsreels, 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,” Herzog continued.

Herzog’s comments came the same day the Biden administration said Israel has agreed to pause military operations in the Gaza Strip for at least four hours at different times to allow for the evacuation of civilians from the conflict zone.

“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,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said in a briefing with reporters. 

Herzog did not address a question on whether the lack of progress on a deal meant a military rescue was the only option, saying, “I don’t intend to go into this at all.”

“We are working both on the military fronts and on all other fronts to bring them back home,” he said, noting “thousands” of officials were working on the hostage issue.

Herzog, as head of state, does not make policy, but he is regularly briefed on matters related to Israeli intelligence and political decisions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who sets policy, has opposed calls for a cease-fire but previously signaled an openness to “humanitarian pauses” that are tied to hostage releases.

The interview comes as Israel continues its ground operation into Gaza, and it has continued its barrage of airstrikes on the enclave. More of the interview will air Thursday night on NBC Nightly News at 6:30 p.m..

This story was updated at 5:49 p.m.