Michelle Kellerman

Kirby says the Biden administration is trying to put Ukraine in a stronger position ahead of any potential peace talks. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.

Kirby says the Biden administration is trying to put Ukraine in a stronger position ahead of any potential peace talks. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.

Skywriting planes drew huge ribbons in the skies above Tel Aviv, a reminder that Israelis are still waiting for the return of 100 hostages captured by Hamas over 14 months ago. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to President-elect Donald Trump over the weekend about the efforts to get the hostages home. A source familiar with the negotiations tells NPR... there is momentum. U.S.

Skywriting planes drew huge ribbons in the skies above Tel Aviv, a reminder that Israelis are still waiting for the return of 100 hostages captured by Hamas over 14 months ago. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to President-elect Donald Trump over the weekend about the efforts to get the hostages home. A source familiar with the negotiations tells NPR... there is momentum. U.S.

officials and analysts say Hamas is showing more flexibility too. But Palestinians under bombardment remain skeptical, and some families of the hostages worry that the deal will only bring some of them home. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

officials and analysts say Hamas is showing more flexibility too. But Palestinians under bombardment remain skeptical, and some families of the hostages worry that the deal will only bring some of them home. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

Well, they say the whole context in the region has changed. Hamas has been degraded to the point where it can't carry out another October 7th-like attack. Israeli strikes and assassinations have degraded the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and there's a ceasefire there now. And Iran lost its client state in Syria with the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Well, they say the whole context in the region has changed. Hamas has been degraded to the point where it can't carry out another October 7th-like attack. Israeli strikes and assassinations have degraded the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and there's a ceasefire there now. And Iran lost its client state in Syria with the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Well, they say the whole context in the region has changed. Hamas has been degraded to the point where it can't carry out another October 7th-like attack. Israeli strikes and assassinations have degraded the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and there's a ceasefire there now. And Iran lost its client state in Syria with the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

So many say that Hamas is now being more flexible. A source close to the negotiations also told NPR that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a deal because he wants to focus more on Iran.

So many say that Hamas is now being more flexible. A source close to the negotiations also told NPR that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a deal because he wants to focus more on Iran.

So many say that Hamas is now being more flexible. A source close to the negotiations also told NPR that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a deal because he wants to focus more on Iran.

Well, it would be a lengthy ceasefire, up to two months. Hamas would release some hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees released from Israeli jails. But exactly who is being debated? And there are a lot of big open questions about Hamas's future role, about who runs Gaza, and how to secure Gaza to get vital aid in. So this deal would really just be a start.

Well, it would be a lengthy ceasefire, up to two months. Hamas would release some hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees released from Israeli jails. But exactly who is being debated? And there are a lot of big open questions about Hamas's future role, about who runs Gaza, and how to secure Gaza to get vital aid in. So this deal would really just be a start.

Well, it would be a lengthy ceasefire, up to two months. Hamas would release some hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees released from Israeli jails. But exactly who is being debated? And there are a lot of big open questions about Hamas's future role, about who runs Gaza, and how to secure Gaza to get vital aid in. So this deal would really just be a start.

Well, I woke up this morning to skywriting planes painting huge ribbons in the sky to draw attention to the hostages. Families are cautious. You know, they've been here before, only to be disappointed by Netanyahu. I met Efrat Machikawa in central Tel Aviv. On Saturday night at a rally for the hostages, she said only diplomacy can get her uncle, who turned 80 in captivity, out of Gaza.

Well, I woke up this morning to skywriting planes painting huge ribbons in the sky to draw attention to the hostages. Families are cautious. You know, they've been here before, only to be disappointed by Netanyahu. I met Efrat Machikawa in central Tel Aviv. On Saturday night at a rally for the hostages, she said only diplomacy can get her uncle, who turned 80 in captivity, out of Gaza.

Well, I woke up this morning to skywriting planes painting huge ribbons in the sky to draw attention to the hostages. Families are cautious. You know, they've been here before, only to be disappointed by Netanyahu. I met Efrat Machikawa in central Tel Aviv. On Saturday night at a rally for the hostages, she said only diplomacy can get her uncle, who turned 80 in captivity, out of Gaza.

And a lot are really worried about the talk of a partial deal. They want Netanyahu to bring everyone back.

And a lot are really worried about the talk of a partial deal. They want Netanyahu to bring everyone back.