A new breakthrough in the 14-month-long Israel-Hamas conflict suggests that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal may be within reach. According to a senior Palestinian official, indirect negotiations with the US, Qatar, and Egypt are nearing their final stage. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has also stated that an agreement is closer than ever.
The talks involve a three-phase plan: releasing civilians and women soldiers held hostage in Gaza within 45 days, followed by Israeli forces withdrawing from city centers, coastal roads, and key border areas. The plan also includes a mechanism for displaced Gazans to return to the north of the territory.
Currently, an estimated 62 out of 96 hostages held in Gaza are believed to be alive, with US President Joe Biden’s May proposal serving as a basis for the negotiations. However, key details remain to be worked out.
A recent round of talks in October failed to produce a deal, and Hamas rejected a short-term ceasefire proposal. Israel has proposed a security control over Gaza following any agreement, which has raised concerns among negotiators but been welcomed by far-right Israeli cabinet ministers.
The negotiations come as the war-torn territory faces an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with widespread hunger and destruction affecting most of its 2.3 million population. The US presidential election, won by Donald Trump in November, has reinvigorated diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire deal before his inauguration.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80vdy9ex9xo