Report: Hamas Accepts Draft for Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal
Hamas on Tuesday agreed to a draft proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages, according to two officials involved in the talks. An Israeli official confirmed progress in the negotiations but stated that the details are still being finalized. The proposal will require approval from Israel’s cabinet to take effect.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the draft agreement, with an Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirming its authenticity. The three-phase deal includes the release of 33 hostages over six weeks, including women, children, elderly civilians, and the wounded, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.
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The agreement specifies that five female Israeli soldiers would be freed, with each soldier exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 serving life sentences for security offenses.
In the first 42-day phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from population centers in Gaza, displaced Palestinians would begin returning to northern Gaza, and humanitarian aid deliveries would increase significantly, with 600 trucks entering daily.
Qatar, mediating the talks, announced that negotiations are in their “final stages.” Foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari expressed optimism but cautioned against premature celebration. “Most obstacles have been resolved over the past weeks, and we are hopeful for an agreement soon,” he said.
