According to Axios news site, citing three informed sources, the United States has proposed a new formulation for parts of the proposed ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas in an attempt to finalize the agreement. The sources mentioned that the new draft aims to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas and reach an accord.
The sources clarified that the efforts being made by the United States in cooperation with Qatari and Egyptian mediators focus on Article Eight of the proposal, which deals with negotiations that are supposed to begin between Israel and Hamas during the implementation of the first phase, in order to determine the precise conditions for the second phase of the agreement, which includes achieving "sustainable calm" in Gaza.
According to the sources, Hamas wants these negotiations to concentrate solely on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for every living Israeli soldier or hostage held in Gaza. On the other hand, Israel wants to have the ability to address disarmament in Gaza and other issues during these negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated last Sunday that he is interested in reaching a "partial agreement" with Hamas that would secure the release of "some hostages" held in Gaza while allowing Israel to continue military operations in the area. When asked if he would agree to end the war as part of a hostage deal, Netanyahu said in a statement to Channel 14 of Israel that he would not, adding: "I will not stop the war and leave Hamas standing in Gaza," as reported by Axios.
