Hamas has agreed to a US proposal for talks aimed at releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers and civilians, according to a senior Hamas source on Saturday. This decision comes 16 days after the initial phase of an agreement intended to halt the Gaza conflict, with Hamas dropping its demand for Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire before signing the deal.
Negotiations for a ceasefire will continue over the six-week first phase, said the source, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. A Palestinian official involved in the peace efforts suggested that this proposal could potentially lead to a framework agreement, potentially ending Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza that began after a Hamas attack in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of hostages.
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Since then, Israel has reported over 38,000 Palestinian fatalities and close to 90,000 injuries. An Israeli negotiator, also speaking anonymously, expressed optimism about reaching an agreement, a shift from previous occasions when Israel found Hamas conditions unacceptable.
A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment immediately on Saturday, which is the Jewish Sabbath. Netanyahu’s office previously indicated that talks would continue next week, acknowledging remaining differences between the parties.
The new proposal guarantees a temporary ceasefire, aid delivery, and Israeli troop withdrawal, contingent on progress in indirect talks towards implementing the agreement’s second phase, as per source.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire and release hostages have intensified, with active diplomacy involving Washington, Israel, and Qatar, where the exiled Hamas leadership resides in Doha. A regional source noted US administration’s urgency to finalize a deal before the November presidential election.
Netanyahu mentioned that Israel’s Mossad chief returned from initial discussions in Qatar, with further negotiations planned for next week.
