Israel, Hamas Near Ceasefire Deal Amid Hostage Release Talks

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel and Hamas are reportedly close to finalizing a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

The potential deal, which follows months of intense mediation efforts, was described as “closer than ever” by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We await final word from Hamas on its acceptance,” Blinken said during a press briefing on Tuesday. “Until we get that word, we’ll remain on the brink.”

Details of the agreement, as seen in a draft obtained by Reuters, outline a two-phase process. The first phase would last 60 days and involve the release of Israeli hostages, including children, women, elderly individuals, and the sick, in exchange for up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Concurrently, Israel would partially withdraw its troops from Gaza.

Julian Borger, senior international correspondent for The Guardian, noted that while progress has been made, skepticism remains. “We have been told that it’s now just a question of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts,” Borger said. “But we have been here before.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right figure, expressed concerns about the deal, emphasizing the need for “complete victory” over Hamas. “What stands before me is only one thing: how to achieve the full goals of the war,” Smotrich said in a statement. “The total destruction of Hamas, both military and civilian, and the return of all our hostages home.”

Meanwhile, violence continued in the region. Israeli forces reported striking over 50 Hamas targets in Gaza, including weapons storage facilities and underground infrastructure. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported multiple casualties, including seven members of one family killed in a strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza City.

In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces reportedly destroyed homes and bulldozed roads in several villages, escalating tensions along the border. The Israeli military also confirmed that three soldiers were wounded in the West Bank after their vehicle drove over an explosive device.

As negotiations continue, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless others.