Israel and Hamas are reportedly advancing toward a potential agreement aimed at achieving a ceasefire and releasing hostages held in Gaza, as key discussions continue between the two sides in Cairo on Tuesday, according to two officials familiar with the negotiations.
Despite Israel’s escalated offensive in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where 1.4 million displaced Palestinians seek refuge from ongoing conflicts, talks are said to be progressing. A recent bold Israeli hostage rescue operation liberated two captives in Rafah along the Egyptian border but resulted in the deaths of at least 74 Palestinians, as reported by local health officials, and caused significant destruction.
An agreement would offer a much-needed reprieve from the ongoing war, now entering its fifth month, and potentially secure the release of some of the roughly 100 people still held captive in Gaza. However, mediation efforts involving Qatar, the United States, and Egypt have faced challenges due to the vastly differing positions of Hamas and Israel.
Israel has made dismantling Hamas’ governing and military infrastructure and securing the release of hostages its primary objectives in the conflict, which commenced after Hamas-led militants carried out attacks in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the capture of approximately 250 people, including women and children, according to Israeli authorities. This led to the displacement of tens of thousands of Israelis from destroyed communities.
The war has inflicted catastrophic damage on the Gaza Strip, with over 28,000 fatalities, of which more than 70% are women and minors, according to local health officials. Israel’s offensive has devastated vast areas of the territory, displacing around 80% of the population and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that has pushed over a quarter of Gaza’s Palestinians towards starvation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the conflict until achieving “total victory,” insisting that strong military pressure is necessary to secure the release of hostages—a sentiment echoed by his supporters following the successful rescue mission. However, only two hostages, Fernando Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, have been freed by the military since the war began.
Other Israeli officials contend that a negotiated settlement is the only viable means to secure the release of numerous hostages.
A previous agreement in late November resulted in a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of approximately 100 hostages. As part of the deal, around 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel were also freed. Israel estimates that around 30 captives may have died or been killed while in captivity, with their remains still in Gaza. Additionally, three hostages were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces in December, while one female Israeli soldier was liberated in a rescue operation in the early stages of the conflict.
According to a senior Egyptian official, mediators have made “relatively significant” progress in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas ahead of a scheduled meeting in Cairo on Tuesday involving representatives from Qatar, the U.S., and Israel. Israeli media reported that the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, was present in Cairo for the meeting.
The Egyptian official indicated that the meeting would focus on finalizing a six-week ceasefire agreement, with guarantees for continued negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire.
A Western diplomat in Cairo confirmed the existence of a proposed six-week deal but cautioned that further discussions are necessary to reach a final agreement. The diplomat emphasized the importance of Tuesday’s meeting in bridging remaining gaps and advancing towards a six-week truce, followed by negotiations for a lasting ceasefire deal.
Both officials spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
Although the precise details of the emerging deal were not disclosed, various proposals have been under discussion for weeks. Israel has proposed a two-month ceasefire, which would include the release of hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, along with the relocation of top Hamas leaders in Gaza to other countries.
However, Hamas rejected these terms and presented a three-phased plan, featuring 45-day intervals, in which hostages would be released gradually, Israel would free hundreds of imprisoned Palestinians (including senior militants), and the conflict would be de-escalated with Israel withdrawing its troops—an arrangement deemed unacceptable by Israel, which aims to dismantle Hamas before ending the war.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism during a recent visit to the region, indicating that the ongoing talks could lead to an agreement. President Joe Biden echoed this sentiment on Monday, stating that the “key elements” of a deal are on the table, despite existing gaps. He pledged that the U.S. would do everything possible to facilitate an agreement.
These positive signs come amid ongoing hostilities. Palestinians continue to mourn casualties from Israel’s hostage rescue operation, with the death toll rising to 74 on Tuesday. In Gaza, residents and displaced individuals are sifting through the rubble from Israeli airstrikes, which provided cover for the rescue mission.
While concerns persist over Rafah due to the significant influx of Palestinians seeking refuge, fighting continues across the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military reported ongoing clashes with militants in Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, and in central Gaza. Since the commencement of the ground operation in late October, three soldiers have been killed in combat, bringing the total troop death toll to 232.
According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, 133 people killed in Israeli strikes were brought to hospitals in the past day. The ministry reports that since the conflict began on October 7, the death toll in Gaza has reached 28,473, with over 68,000 individuals wounded.
