Hamas reportedly agreed to the plan ceasefire agreement and Israel which would include the release of many hostages, according to The Associated Press, which cited “officials involved in the negotiations.” The potential deal is the first sign in months that the war between Israel and Hamas, which has lasted more than a year, may be nearing an end.
Possible agreement It is reported that it will happen in three phases, the first of which will start a 42-day ceasefire. At that time, 33 hostages, including children, women, female soldiers, men over the age of 50 and humanitarian cases would be released. In exchange, Hamas would receive hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including high-ranking prisoners. According to an Israeli government official, “most” of the 33 hostages kidnapped by Hamas from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, they are still alive.
Speaking about the prisoner-for-prisoner exchange, an Israeli government official noted that there is a “cost” to getting the terrorist group to release the hostages. However, the source vowed that Israel “will not leave the Gaza Strip until all our hostages have returned home.”
People examine debris and rubble at the site of an Israeli bomb attack on a residential area on Jalaa Street in Gaza City on January 14, 2025, during the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas.
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As part of the first part of the agreement, Israel would begin withdrawing from parts of northern Gaza, allowing the Palestinians to return to their homes. However, security experts warn that this could allow Hamas to rebuild itself.
In addition, during the first phase of the agreement, humanitarian aid would be transferred to in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with IDF commanders at the Netzarim Court in Gaza to discuss Hamas operations on Nov. 19. 2024. (Photo courtesy of TPS)
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Details of the second phase are expected to be discussed during the first phase. However, the draft agreement mentioned by AP, indicates that this time, Hamas will release the remaining hostages alive in exchange for the “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza. An Egyptian official is said to have told the AP that before the end of the first phase, there will be agreements for the second and third phases.
“This is the only time since November 2023 that we are actually negotiating with Hamas, and they are not playing games in the negotiations,” an Israeli government official told FOX News.
The official cited many incidents, such as the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and local pressure against the terrorist group, as key turning points in creating the right “conditions” for an agreement.
Israeli soldiers remove the bodies of civilians who were killed in previous days in an attack by Palestinian terrorists on this kibbutz near the Gaza border, on Oct. 10. 2023 Kfar Aza, Israel. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
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Qatari and Israeli officials who spoke to FOX News expressed optimism about a possible deal that could end the conflict.
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Thousands of people have been killed in the 15-month war, which began after brutal attacks by Hamas in Oct. 7, 2023, where more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 250 were arrested.
Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.