On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Israeli Channel 13 quoted informed Israeli officials as saying that Israel “is ready to consider releasing security prisoners (Palestinian prisoners), in exchange for a large and broad deal that includes the release of many prisoners held by the Hamas movement”  in Gaza.

The officials - who the channel did not name - said that “against the backdrop of attempts by Qatar and the United States to reach small deals that lead to a ceasefire, Israel is ready and willing to consider releasing security prisoners in exchange for a large and broad deal that includes the release of many kidnappers.”

The channel also quoted a senior Israeli official, saying: “There are many options on the table, but there is nothing concrete at the present time.”

It added, "With regard to the many reports this evening about progress in communications, senior Israeli officials say that there are many communications, on many axes, but in Israel they do not know of any significant progress."

This comes as there was no response from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to what was reported by the channel, until 19:50 GMT.

Netanyahu had said earlier today, Wednesday, during his meeting with the heads of settlements in the West Bank: “I would like to put aside all kinds of empty rumors that we hear from all directions,” and added: “I repeat one thing that is clear: there will be no ceasefire without the release of the hostages.” "Everything else is meaningless."

For its part, the American website Axios reported, citing American and Israeli officials, that US President Joe Biden urged Netanyahu to stop the fighting for “three days” to advance the release of prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.

According to the site, this came during a phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, Monday, November 6, 2023, while Netanyahu expressed his fear of “losing international support if the fighting stops for 3 days,” and informed Biden that he “does not trust Hamas’ intentions or its acceptance of a deal” regarding the hostages,” he said.

The website also noted that the United States, Israel and Qatar are "discussing a proposal under which Hamas would release 10 to 15 hostages, provided that the truce would be exploited in accordance with the agreement to verify the identity of all hostages and submit a list of them."

This comes as it is estimated that Hamas is holding about 180 prisoners, and Islamic Jihad is holding 40, while others are holding about 20, according to Axios.