Israeli PM appears ready for Gaza ceasefire deal: US NSA

Some of Netanyahu's critics have accused him of stalling in negotiations, while Israel has repeatedly blamed Palestine's Hamas for delays

- Agencies

TEL AVIV/CAIRO: Visiting US national security adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan said on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared prepared to negotiate a deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire.

"We're now looking to close a hostage release deal and a ceasefire (in Gaza). It's time to finish the job and bring all of the hostages home... I got the sense from the prime minister he's ready to do a deal," Sullivan said at a press conference at the Tel Aviv annex of the US embassy in Jerusalem, after meeting Netanyahu.

There has been growing optimism that a new round of talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal might succeed, with key mediator Qatar talking of new "momentum" last week.

Sullivan said that Hamas's approach to the negotiations had changed, attributing it to the overthrow of their ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the ceasefire that went into effect in the war between Israel and another ally, Lebanese group Hezbollah.