Top Netanyahu adviser says likelihood of Hamas hostage release deal 'has gone up'

Top Netanyahu adviser says likelihood of Hamas hostage release deal 'has gone up'

Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says the likelihood of reaching a deal with Hamas to release hostages "has gone up" in recent weeks.

Regev told 'Fox & Friends' that the past six weeks of fighting have been devastating for Hamas, and that the terrorist group "needs" a reprieve. He said Israel may be willing to pause fighting if Hamas releases a "signicant" number of hostages.

Regev and U.S. officials have warned that no deal has been hammered out yet, however. Israel says there remain nearly 240 hostages in Hamas custody, though the U.S. has cautioned it is impossible to know how many of those remain alive