Hamas accepted draft agreement for Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages, officials say
The plan still needs to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet for final approval
Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said on Tuesday. An Israeli official said progress has been made, but the details are being finalised.
Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposed agreement, and an Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed its authenticity. The plan would need to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet for final approval.
All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate an end to the 15-month war and secure the release of dozens of hostages captured in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that triggered it. Some 100 Israelis are still captive inside Gaza, and the military believes at least a third of them are dead.
Officials have expressed mounting optimism that they can conclude an agreement ahead of the January 20 inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump, whose Middle East envoy has joined the negotiations.
The offensive has reduced large areas of the territory to rubble and displaced around 90 per cent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, with hundreds of thousands packed into tent camps along the coast, where hunger is widespread.
