Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reached out to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in an effort to thwart a deal, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar saying that any opportunity to release the hostages 'must not be missed'

Palestinian scholar Thair Abu Ras explains why a deal may be complicated by al-Sharaa's hostility to Iran, a history of Palestinian support for the Assad regime, and the Palestinian and Syrian 'common struggle' against Israeli occupation: 'The biggest obstacle is the Golan Heights'

Two additional Israeli soldiers were severely wounded in the incident in Gaza City's Shujaiyeh neighborhood