Hamas has agreed to a US proposal to start discussions on releasing Israeli hostages, 16 days after the first phase of an agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war, a senior Hamas source told Reuters on Saturday. The militant group has dropped its demand for Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire before signing the agreement, instead allowing negotiations to aim for that throughout the six-week first phase.
A Palestinian official involved in international peace efforts mentioned that the proposal could lead to a framework agreement if Israel embraces it, potentially ending the nine-month-old conflict. A source within Israel’s negotiating team stated there is now a real chance of reaching an agreement, a sharp contrast to past instances when Israel found Hamas's conditions unacceptable.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, since Hamas launched an attack on southern Israeli cities on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages, based on official Israeli figures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment on Saturday, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath, but confirmed talks would resume next week, acknowledging that significant gaps still exist.
The new proposal ensures that mediators will guarantee a temporary ceasefire, facilitate aid delivery, and oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops as long as indirect talks continue to implement the second phase of the agreement, the Hamas source added. Efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza have intensified, with active shuttle diplomacy involving Washington, Israel, and Qatar.
Qatar, leading the mediation efforts from Doha where the exiled Hamas leadership is based, plays a crucial role in this process. A regional source disclosed that the US administration is making concerted efforts to secure a deal before the upcoming presidential election in November. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency had returned from initial meetings with mediators in Qatar and that negotiations would continue next week.
A Palestinian official involved in international peace efforts mentioned that the proposal could lead to a framework agreement if Israel embraces it, potentially ending the nine-month-old conflict. A source within Israel’s negotiating team stated there is now a real chance of reaching an agreement, a sharp contrast to past instances when Israel found Hamas's conditions unacceptable.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, since Hamas launched an attack on southern Israeli cities on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages, based on official Israeli figures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment on Saturday, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath, but confirmed talks would resume next week, acknowledging that significant gaps still exist.
The new proposal ensures that mediators will guarantee a temporary ceasefire, facilitate aid delivery, and oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops as long as indirect talks continue to implement the second phase of the agreement, the Hamas source added. Efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza have intensified, with active shuttle diplomacy involving Washington, Israel, and Qatar.
Qatar, leading the mediation efforts from Doha where the exiled Hamas leadership is based, plays a crucial role in this process. A regional source disclosed that the US administration is making concerted efforts to secure a deal before the upcoming presidential election in November. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency had returned from initial meetings with mediators in Qatar and that negotiations would continue next week.
