A Hamas official reportedly confirmed to the BBC that the group has approved the ceasefire agreement after communicating with Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
However, moments before Qatar was set to hold a press conference about the state of the talks, Israeli media reported that Hamas had introduced new demands related to the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategically significant area along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.
Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social and wrote: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas encountered a last-minute hurdle on Wednesday, causing a delay in the anticipated announcement of a ceasefire agreement. Israel accused Hamas of attempting to alter previously agreed-upon terms regarding Gaza’s border with Egypt, which Hamas denied, calling the claims “nonsense.” The dispute prompted Qatar, the mediator in these negotiations, to postpone the expected announcement of the deal.
What would the ceasefire mean?
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is expected to bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza. The agreement is anticipated to involve an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Hamas took 251 hostages during its attack on Israel in October 2023, with 94 still in captivity.
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However, Israel believes that only about 60 of these hostages are still alive. In return, Israel is expected to release approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom have been jailed for many years.
The proposed ceasefire agreement, developed over several weeks of talks, would involve the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, and the introduction of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, the seriousness of the disagreement and the potential collapse of the deal remain uncertain at this time.
Months of intense negotiations have led to this critical point, and all parties involved are working to finalize the agreement. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing briefings from various sides providing updates.
On Tuesday, thetheorist.in had reported that Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, according to officials involved in the ongoing negotiations.
This had come after Qatar had announced on Tuesday that Israel and Hamas are at the “closest point” yet to finalizing a deal.
The Associated Press had reported that it obtained a copy of the proposed ceasefire agreement, which has been confirmed as authentic by both an Egyptian official and a Hamas representative. While an Israeli official noted that significant progress had been made, they emphasized that some final details are still under discussion. The agreement will also require approval from the Israeli Cabinet before it can be finalized.
