US negotiators between Israel and the radical Hamas group have managed to make progress in talks on an agreement to stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release hostages. This was reported by Associated press It refers to unnamed senior officials.
According to the publication’s interlocutors, the terms of the potential agreement will be implemented in two stages.
In the first phase, the IDF will stop fighting in exchange for “women, the elderly and wounded prisoners” held by Hamas.
The parties will then try to resolve the details during the first 30 days of the second phase, which envisages the release of Israeli soldiers and other prisoners.
“Although the proposed agreement would not end the war, US officials hope that such an agreement could pave the way for a resolution of the conflict,” the text reads.
The situation in the Middle East escalated further on October 7, when thousands of armed Hamas supporters entered Israel from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the country was at war.
The aim of Israel’s intervention operation was to repel the attack, release more than 200 hostages, including foreigners, and destroy Hamas. In order to achieve this goal, Israel launched major rocket attacks on the Gaza Strip from the first day of the operation. At the same time, the Israeli National Security Council decided to stop the supply of water, food, goods, electricity and fuel to the sector.
On November 22, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a humanitarian pause and the release of some hostages. On 24 November, the ceasefire agreement officially came into force and ended on the morning of 1 December. During the ceasefire week, Hamas released 110 hostages.
Previously Netanyahu commented on efforts to release hostages in Gaza.