Hamas accepts draft agreement on ceasefire in Gaza Strip, media reports
Illustrative photo: Hamas accepts a draft ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip (Getty Images)
Hamas backs draft agreement on ceasefire in Gaza and release of dozens of hostages, according to The Times of Israel.
According to officials involved in the negotiations, progress has been made on the agreement, but details are currently being finalized.
Associated Press, in turn, reports that it has seen a copy of the draft agreement, and officials from Egypt and Hamas confirm its authenticity. According to the agreement:
- the first stage, which will last 42 days, will include the release of 33 hostages. The IDF will begin withdrawing from the Gaza Strip along with a sharp increase in humanitarian aid;
- during the first stage, negotiations will begin in the second stage, which will include the release of all men from captivity and the final withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip;
- the third phase will include the return of the bodies of hostages killed in Gaza since their abduction on October 7, 2023, and the development of a reconstruction plan, as well as the creation of a new governance structure for Gaza.
Israel's war with Hamas
In 2023, Israel carried out a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack in October, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties and abductions.
In recent months, talks between Tel Aviv and the Islamist movement have been fruitless, despite attempts by U.S. President Joe Biden to influence the situation.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has warned that the situation could deteriorate if the hostage issue is not resolved before his inauguration on January 20.
CNN recently reported that an Israeli delegation expressed moderate optimism about a possible deal with Hamas.
