Jerusalem: Israeli state media reported that Israeli military fighting in the Gaza Strip has ended, claiming that the Israeli army has destroyed Hamas' Rafah Brigade. Citing senior security officials, Israeli state-owned Kan TV said Israel would now return to Gaza only "if there is new intelligence", but in general, Israeli military action in Gaza has ended.

Rafah brigade does not exist.

According to the channel, the Israeli military said that Hamas' Rafah Brigade has been disbanded and no longer exists. It also said that these things were said at the political level during discussions to assess the security situation in the past few days, Xinhua news agency reported.

Negotiations for the release of hostages

Kan TV said senior Israeli defence officials also said that when most of Hamas' fighting units are disbanded, it will be the right time to initiate the hostage deal. The channel also reported that the Israeli delegation participating in the talks for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday did not arrive in Qatar by plane due to fear of Iranian attack. The delegation landed in Abu Dhabi, UAE and left for Doha by road and not by plane. A joint statement by the US, Egypt and Qatar issued on Friday said that "over the past 48 hours senior officials in Doha have held talks as mediators, with the aim of reaching an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages".

I am optimistic about the agreement on the release of hostages: Biden

US President Joe Biden appeared extremely confident about the prospects of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He said, "We are much closer to an agreement this time than ever before." 

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after two days of talks in Doha, Biden said, "I don't want to make a negative comment, but the ceasefire is much closer than it was three days ago." In this two-day talks, it was agreed to continue the talks next week. This is not the first time in the ten-month-long war that Biden has expressed hope for an agreement. Biden said on Friday, "We may have something. But we haven't reached there yet.