As negotiations over a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip come to a close, a reported agreement has emerged between Israel and the Hamas, with multiple media outlets corroborating the news on Wednesday evening. According to the “Times of Israel”, a Israeli government representative has confirmed the deal.
Under the terms of the agreement, which is expected to be officially announced later in the day, the Hamas and its affiliated militant groups are reportedly set to release 33 hostages, taken from Israel during the October 7, 2023 attacks. In return, Israel is likely to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The IDF troops are expected to withdraw from the Gaza Strip in a phased manner.
The negotiations between the Hamas and Israel over a ceasefire took place most recently, with the involvement of the United States in Qatar. In the days leading up to this, a swift agreement had been hinted at.