Hamas is expected to announce Thursday night that it is accepting the proposal, conveyed via US President Donald Trump, for a hostage release deal. According to a report from Gaza, Hamas notified Qatar that it agrees to the proposed outline.
Diplomats familiar with the negotiations say that if Hamas confirms acceptance, a final agreement could be signed within days, following a visit by an Israeli delegation to finalize the terms.
Sources say the ceasefire could continue beyond the initial 60-day period even if a comprehensive agreement is not reached, provided the hostage releases progress alongside negotiations. A source close to the talks said the parties are nearing a deal. Israeli officials are reportedly optimistic, while Qatar is exerting significant pressure on the overseas leadership of Hamas.
The Israeli Diplomatic-Security Cabinet is scheduled to convene within the hour and deliberate late into the night. Despite Israeli optimism regarding the deal, discussions will also focus on formulating the next steps to decisively defeat Hamas in the Gaza Strip. A detailed debate is planned for Thursday evening, with a vote on the plan expected after the Sabbath. Proposed measures include additional aid distribution centers, drainage systems to separate civilian populations from combat zones, and an intensified siege on the remaining Hamas-held areas until the terrorists surrender.
Still, Israeli officials anticipate that even if Hamas agrees in principle to the ceasefire and hostage-release framework, it will create obstacles during the drafting phase in an effort to secure further concessions.
A senior Israeli official told Israel Hayom that even if no deal is ultimately signed, a dramatic declaration regarding the region's future is expected during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with Trump. The official said Netanyahu's visit to Washington is primarily intended to facilitate such an announcement. "What makes this possible," he said, "is the increasing likelihood of a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the war. Israel has sufficient guarantees to safeguard its objectives and security."
The official added that the Netanyahu-Trump meeting will be celebratory in light of the war's outcome in Iran and will also address ways to prevent Tehran from resuming its nuclear weapons program. "The extensive sanctions have crippled Iran's economy, especially after the blow it suffered in the war. Additional snapback sanctions this fall could bring Iran close to bankruptcy, and ultimately Tehran will get the message." Reports in opposition-linked Iranian media suggest that talks to resume nuclear negotiations may already be underway, possibly in Europe.
Back to the negotiations with Hamas: the proposed framework provides the basis for an agreement but several issues remain unresolved, perhaps explaining some inaccurate media reports over the past 24 hours.
The outline stipulates that most of the living hostages would be released in the early stages of the deal, not gradually as The New York Times reported. Hamas opposes this clause, which may still be modified. The Israeli official confirmed Israel Hayom's earlier report that Hamas has committed to providing information on the remaining hostages still in captivity. He also confirmed Trump's personal commitment to the deal and his pledge to continue negotiations beyond the initial 60-day period if a final agreement is not reached.
On the question of Israeli troop withdrawals, diplomatic sources say the outline allows only for a partial pullout from southern Gaza. The IDF will retain control of the Morag corridor and areas to its south, including the Philadelphi route. The framework states that future withdrawals will be discussed as part of the ongoing negotiations toward a final arrangement.
Drafts of the deal are being exchanged among the parties and mediators. Although the gaps have narrowed, more revisions and clarifications are needed to reach a full agreement.
