Hamas accepted a draft agreement to cease firing in Gaza, the release of hostages: officials

Hamas has reportedly agreed to a cease-fire deal with Israel that would include the release of dozens of hostages, according to the Associated Press, citing “officials involved in the talks.” 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 coming to an end.

The potential agreement will reportedly take place in three phases, the first of which will begin a 42-day ceasefire. At that time, 33 hostages were to be released, including children, women, female soldiers, men over the age of 50 and humanitarian charges. In exchange, Hamas will accept hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including senior prisoners. According to an Israeli government official, “most” of the 33 hostages kidnapped by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, they are still alive.

Speaking about the hostage exchange, an Israeli government official noted that there was a “price” for getting the terrorist group to release the hostages. The source vowed that Israel “will not leave the Gaza Strip until all our hostages have returned home.”

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As part of the first phase of the deal, Israel will begin withdrawing from parts of northern Gaza, allowing Palestinians to return to their homes. However, security experts warn that this could allow Hamas to rebuild.

Additionally, during the first phase of the agreement, aid will be delivered to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with IDF commanders in the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza to discuss the work of Hamas on November 19, 2024. (Photo courtesy of TPS)

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The details of the second phase are expected to be discussed during the first phase. However, a draft agreement cited by the AP, indicates that during this phase, Hamas will release the remaining hostages alive in exchange for the “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza. An Egyptian official reportedly 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 several events, such as the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and domestic pressure against the terrorist group, as important changes in creating the right “conditions” for the deal.

Israeli soldiers remove the bodies of civilians killed in previous days in an attack by Palestinian terrorists on this kibbutz near the Gaza border, on Oct. 10, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

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Qatari and Israeli officials who spoke to FOX News expressed hope for an agreement that could end the war.

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Thousands have been killed in the 15-month war, which began after a brutal attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in which more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 250 captured.

Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.