Significant progress made in talks to release hostages: Netanyahu

But too soon to raise hopes that deal will be reached, he says, amid truce demands

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JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on June 10 that there had been "significant progress" in efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, but that it was "too soon" to raise hopes that a deal would be reached.

Despite efforts by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar to restore a ceasefire in Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.

Mr. Netanyahu, who has come under pressure from within his right-wing coalition to continue the war and block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, said that there had been progress, without providing details.