Gaza strikes ‘endangering stability of entire region’, says former hostage negotiator

In his televised statement tonight, Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was doing everything possible to secure the return of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas.

Earlier the Qatari prime minister said he was hoping for a breakthrough in negotiations to free some of those held captive.

For the families hoping for news of their loved ones, it’s an incredibly agonising wait.

Earlier we spoke to Gershon Baskin, the negotiator who helped secure the release of an Israeli soldier who was held hostage by Hamas for five years.

We asked him whether the fate of the hostages was holding back Israel’s decision to go ahead with a ground offensive?