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What’s happened: On Thursday night the leaders of the US, Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement imploring the sides to finalise a deal.

• According to their statement, “There is no more time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement.”
• “As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties.”
• Following the announcement Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement that Israel would send the negotiating team on August 15^th to finalise the details.
• The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement thanking the leaders for their commitment to free the hostages.
• Despite the cautious optimism, fighting has continued in the south and north.
• Sirens were heard early this morning, in Ashkelon and Zikim, one rocket from Gaza was successfully intercepted.
• Inside Gaza, the IDF continues to operate in the south and centre of the Strip. As part of their efforts to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its fighting capacity the IDF launched a new incursion into Khan Younis after calling Palestinian civilians to evacuate.
• According to the IDF over the past day, the Israeli Air Force (IAF), “struck approximately 60 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including military structures in which terrorists were operating, weaponry, and additional terrorist infrastructure.”
• In Rafah, “troops located rocket launch pits along the Philadelphi Corridor that were situated a few dozen meters away from the Gaza Strip’s largest fuel storage facility for civilian use. Any damage to the facility – including rocket fire from these nearby launch pits – could endanger the lives of tens of thousands of Gazan citizens in the surrounding areas. The IDF did not damage the fuel storage facility while dismantling the launch pits.”
• The IDF statement added this is, ”a further example of the systematic abuse of civilian and humanitarian infrastructure by the terror organisations in Gaza.”
• In the north Hezbollah continues launching rockets, missiles, and attack drones into northern Israel. Over 50 rockets were fired yesterday towards Nahariya and Shlomi, some were intercepted while others landed in open areas.
• This morning, more rockets were fired at Kiryat Shmona and Manara.
• The IDF continues to target Hezbollah assets in response. Last night, “the IAF struck a Hezbollah command centre in the area of Hanaouay and terrorist infrastructure in the area of Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon. Additionally, the IAF struck a Hezbollah launcher in the area of Ayta ash Shab from which rockets were fired yesterday.”

Context: Israel remains on high alert for the anticipated revenge attack for the dual assassinations of Ismail Haniya in Tehran and Fuad Shukr in Lebanon a week ago.

• According to Hezbollah leader Nasrallah the delay in the attack is part of a psychological strategy designed to keep the Israeli population under constant fear.
• The IDF Chief of Staff Halevi described his forces being on “peak readiness, both in offense and in defence.” Adding, “We will know how to carry out a very rapid offensive anywhere in Lebanon, anywhere in Gaza, anywhere in the Middle East, above ground and below ground. We will send a very clear message to our enemies, those who attack us, those who in every speech talk about how they will destroy the state of Israel, we will harm them, and we will continue to grow stronger.”
• Israel continues to receive the support and backing from key allies. Defence Minister Gallant has kept daily contact with senior US defence officials. Whilst the US has now deployed F-22 fighter jets to the region as part of their force projection.
• The cautious optimism around the hostage talks is at least partly based on the latest assessment that Hamas leader Sinwar is now keen to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible and does want not to wait for the possibility of a clash between Israel and Hezbollah and Iran.
• Sinwar is thought to be under renewed pressure from the remaining commanders of the military wing who have seen the devastation wrought upon them in 10 months of fighting.
• It is thought up to 75 per cent of Hamas forces have now been destroyed. Sinwar is one of the only senior leaders that remains alive.
• The Israeli assessment is that around 90 per cent of their rocket capacity has either been fired or destroyed. Yet as is evident from yesterday, they maintain a limited ability to still fire rockets into Israel.
• The view remains that Hamas have held back some of the long-range rockets for symbolic use on special occasions, such as to respond to the assassination of senior Hamas officials.
• Today marks the 308^th day of the war, 115 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.
• The parameters of the agreement are based on the principles as outlined by President Biden at the end of May, and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
• Earlier in the week  the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an emergency meeting in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah at the request of Iran and the Palestinians.
• Acting Iranian Foreign Minister, Baqeri Ali Bagheri Kani told members, “it is expected that they support Iran’s response to the killing. Iran’s action is not only a defence of its own sovereignty and national security but also a defence of the stability and security of the entire region.”
• It remains unclear whether Iran intends to execute its ‘revenge operation’ exclusively on its own, or whether it will also enlist its proxies. Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have all declared their desire to join an attack.

Looking ahead: Whist Israel remains on high alert for a potential multi front attack, there is hope that the prospect of reaching a hostage deal will avert an escalation.

• Media reports have suggested that President Macron relayed messages to Lebanese officials asking Hezbollah to hold off any attack, so as not to detract attention from the Olympics
• Others have suggested that they will attack on the symbolic date of Monday night / Tuesday which coincides with the Jewish fast day of national mourning – the 9^th of Av.
• Renewed hostage talks have been scheduled to be resumed next Thursday August 15^th in either Doha or Cairo.