Hamas has agreed to a U.S. proposal to initiate talks on the release of Israeli hostages, including soldiers and civilians, 16 days after the initial phase of an agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war, a senior Hamas source told media on Saturday.
The group has waived its prior demand that Israel commit to a permanent ceasefire before signing the agreement. Instead, negotiations to achieve a ceasefire will occur during the six-week initial phase, the source said, requesting anonymity due to the private nature of the talks.
A Palestinian official involved in the peace efforts indicated that the proposal could lead to a framework agreement if Israel accepts, potentially ending the nine-month conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
An Israeli negotiator, also speaking anonymously, said there is now a real chance of reaching an agreement, contrasting with previous conditions set by Hamas that Israel deemed unacceptable.
A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately comment. However, his office noted on Friday that talks would continue next week, acknowledging that gaps between the parties remain.
The conflict has resulted in over 38,000 Palestinian deaths since Hamas attacked southern Israeli cities on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The new proposal guarantees that mediators would ensure a temporary ceasefire, aid delivery, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops as long as indirect talks continue to implement the second phase of the agreement, the Hamas source said.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release have intensified with active diplomacy involving Washington, Israel, and Qatar, which is leading mediation efforts from Doha, where the exiled Hamas leadership is based.
A regional source mentioned that the U.S. administration is pushing hard for a deal before the presidential election in November.
Netanyahu said on Friday that the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency had returned from initial meetings with mediators in Qatar and that negotiations would continue next week.