Israeli and Palestinian officials have reportedly reached a deal on a ceasefire and the release of captives, according to various media sources. The agreement, which has been in the works for some time, still requires final technical details to be ironed out, according to Israeli officials.
The Israeli government is preparing to ratify the agreement, which includes the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, as well as a temporary ceasefire, sources said. The ceasefire is expected to last for approximately 42 days, with the release of captives taking place over the coming weeks.
The deal, if finalized, would see the release of 33 “humanitarian cases” including women, children, the elderly, and those with serious health issues, according to the Times of Israel. In exchange, the Palestinian militant group Hamas would release Israeli prisoners.
However, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office has denied reports of a deal, stating that the Hamas has not yet given a final response to the proposed agreement. A Hamas official said that the group has not given a written response, but is awaiting more information before providing a formal answer.
If the deal is finalized, the release of captives could begin as early as Sunday or the start of the following week. According to Israeli sources, 95 of the original 251 captives are still being held by Hamas, with 34 believed to have died in captivity.
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing in Doha, with Qatar, Egypt, and the US playing key roles in the negotiations. The agreement, if reached, could help to de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip, where an Israeli military offensive in January left widespread destruction and displaced nearly 90% of the 2.3 million residents.