Hamas has accepted a draft agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, officials said on Tuesday.
An Israeli official said progress had been made, but details were still being finalized, AP reported.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposed agreement, and Egyptian and Hamas officials confirmed its authenticity.
The plan will have to be submitted to the Israeli cabinet for final approval.
All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on the closed-door negotiations.
Qatar, a key mediator in the talks, said Israel and Hamas were the “closest” to a deal so far.
Under a draft deal being negotiated between Israel and Hamas, Israel will pay a high price to secure the release of female soldiers held by Hamas, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press.
The three-phase deal would begin with the gradual release of 33 hostages over six weeks, including women, children, the elderly and wounded civilians, in exchange for potentially hundreds of Palestinian women and children imprisoned by Israel, the Times of Israel reported.
Among the 33 hostages would be five female Israeli soldiers, who would be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted security prisoners serving life sentences.
During the first, 42-day phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from population centers, Palestinians would be allowed to begin returning to their homes in northern Gaza, and humanitarian aid would be greatly increased, with around 600 trucks entering each day. .
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 kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7, 2023, attack.
About 100 Israelis are still being held in Gaza, and military sources believe at least a third of them are dead.
In the Israeli revenge offensive, more than 46,000 Palestinians were killed, among whom more than half were women and children.
(Vijesti.ba)
