Hamas has agreed to a draft agreement for a cease-fire after a 15-month war, which would lead to the release of an initial group of 33 hostages, according to officials involved in the negotiations. Israeli officials have stated that they are in advanced negotiations with the terror group, but the final details of the deal are still being worked out.
Qatar, acting as a mediator in the talks, has confirmed that Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a compromise. The plan, outlined in a three-phase agreement proposed by the US and supported by the UN Security Council, is set to be presented to the Israeli Cabinet for final approval before implementation.
The first phase of the agreement would involve the gradual release of 33 hostages over six weeks, starting with vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and the wounded. In return, Israel would release potentially hundreds of imprisoned Palestinian women and children, including five female Israeli soldiers exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted militants serving life sentences.
The initial phase would also see an increase in humanitarian aid as Israeli forces withdraw from population centers in northern Gaza, allowing Palestinians to return to their homes. The release of all civilians held captive, both alive and deceased, is expected by the end of the first phase.
Details of the subsequent phases will be negotiated during the initial phase, with verbal guarantees from mediators that negotiations will continue until a comprehensive deal is reached. The second phase would involve the release of remaining living captives, mainly male soldiers, in exchange for more prisoners and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Hamas has insisted on an end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal as a condition for releasing the remaining hostages, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that fighting will continue until Hamas’s military and government capabilities are eliminated.
The third phase of the agreement would focus on returning the bodies of remaining hostages in exchange for a long-term plan to rebuild Gaza. The impending inauguration of President-elect Trump on January 20 has been a deadline for the negotiations, with both Trump and President Biden emphasizing the need for a cease-fire and the release of hostages.
Currently, Hamas is still holding around 100 hostages, including seven Americans, following the group’s attack on Israel in 2023. Palestinian health officials claim that Israeli forces have killed over 46,000 people in Gaza, while a study by the UK-based Henry Jackson Society suggests that a significant number of the casualties were Hamas terrorists.
The negotiations are ongoing, with hopes of reaching a comprehensive agreement that will bring an end to the conflict and provide much-needed relief to the people of Gaza.
