Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages, according to officials involved in the negotiations. Mediators from the United States and Qatar on Tuesday said Israel and Hamas were closer than ever to finalizing a deal that could potentially end 15 months of intense conflict.

The Associated Press reviewed a copy of the proposed agreement, confirmed by an Egyptian official and a Hamas representative. An Israeli official also acknowledged progress but said final details were still being worked out. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
“We are on the brink of achieving a ceasefire,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. “It’s closer than it has ever been before.” Blinken noted that an official announcement could come within hours or days, contingent on Hamas’s final approval.

Proposed Agreement Details
The three-phase ceasefire plan, based on a framework proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden and endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, would begin with the release of 33 hostages over six weeks. These include women, children, elderly individuals, and injured civilians. In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including women and children.
In the first phase:
– Five female Israeli soldiers would be released, with each exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners.
– Israel would gradually withdraw forces from Gaza population centers while humanitarian aid enters the territory at an accelerated pace, with 600 trucks delivering food and medical supplies daily.

Details of subsequent phases remain under negotiation. The second phase would involve the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for additional prisoners and a complete Israeli military withdrawal. A third phase proposes returning deceased hostages’ remains in exchange for a multi-year international reconstruction plan for Gaza.
The conflict, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a large-scale attack on Israel, has led to devastating casualties. The assault killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and resulted in 250 hostages being taken into Gaza. Around 46,000 Palestinians have since been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes, with over half reported as women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

In Gaza, more than 90% of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced, many facing famine-like conditions amid widespread destruction.
The proposed deal requires approval from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet. Previous attempts to mediate a truce have failed, with both sides blaming each other for delays. However, officials are optimistic this time, citing international pressure and humanitarian concerns.
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, families of Palestinian prisoners have expressed hope for their loved ones’ release. Meanwhile, displaced residents in Gaza are waiting anxiously for an agreement to bring relief and stability.
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have committed to ensuring the negotiations progress and that hostilities remain paused during the ceasefire’s implementation.