Reports: War expected to end soon, Netanyahu may accept 2-week pause

A Lebanese political leader has expected Israel's war on Lebanon to end soon, telling al-Joumhouria newspaper that there are two factors that support his suggestion.

The first is that the international efforts are "extremely serious" and the second is that Israel's losses are mounting in its ground operation in south Lebanon, the political leader added.

Senior political sources meanwhile told ad-Diyar newspaper that Qatar and Turkey are pressing Hamas in the issue of achieving a prisoner exchange with Israel.

Israeli PM Benjamin "Netanyahu has linked the issue of ceasing fire for two weeks on Lebanon's front to the al-Qassam Brigades releasing four hostages," the daily said.

"So far the atmosphere is positive regarding the ongoing negotiations in Qatar," the sources added.