Hamas has accepted a ceasefire draft for Gaza and plans to release hostages, signaling potential progress in ongoing negotiations.
Gaza: So, it looks like Hamas has agreed to a draft for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. This news comes from two officials who are part of the talks. They mentioned that Qatar is mediating and things are looking pretty close to a deal.
The Associated Press got a hold of the draft agreement, and both an Egyptian and a Hamas official confirmed it’s legit. An Israeli official also said they’re making progress, but they’re still finalizing the details. The plan will need to go to the Israeli Cabinet for a final thumbs up.
For the past year, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have been trying to end this 15-month war and get those hostages back. Right now, about 100 Israelis are still held captive in Gaza, and sadly, it’s believed that at least a third of them might be dead.
There’s a bit of urgency since the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated on January 20, and officials are hopeful they can wrap this up before then. Trump even mentioned that a ceasefire is “very close” and that they might finalize things by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza is dire. The ongoing conflict has left many areas in ruins, and around 90% of the population is displaced, living in tent camps where food is scarce. Just recently, Israeli strikes killed at least 18 Palestinians, including women and children.
Hamas has stated that the negotiations are in their “final stage,” and they’re optimistic about reaching an agreement. The proposed deal includes a three-phase plan for releasing hostages and a gradual ceasefire, but there are still some tricky details to work out.
In the first phase, they plan to release 33 hostages over six weeks in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The second phase would involve more releases, but Hamas insists they won’t free the remaining hostages without a complete end to the war.
As the talks continue, the pressure is on both sides to find a resolution. The situation remains tense, with ongoing strikes and regional tensions, especially with missile attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels aimed at Israel.
