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Hamas, proposed phased truce: talks one step closer to agreement with Israel?

Egyptian sources think we are close to concluding the agreement on Gaza. But will Israel accept this proposed solution?

Hamas has reportedly put forward the idea of postponing the resolution of some unresolved issues in the negotiations for a truce agreement with Israel, focusing on an immediate truce for the time being. This was reported by the daily al-Araby al-Jadeed, which quoted a source in the Palestinian group. The mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and the United States, appear to support the proposal, and Cairo has reportedly been flexible on the possibility of Israeli forces withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor at a later stage.

According to the source, the talks are ‘at the closest point to concluding the agreement’ since they began, and a response from Israel is now expected. The same sources add that negotiations for the hostages held in the Gaza Strip could begin two weeks after the agreement comes into force. This is surely the most critical point for Tel Aviv to digest.

The director of the CIA, William Burns, told NPR that the negotiations for the release of the hostages are proceeding ‘seriously’ and could be concluded in the next two weeks. John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, also confirmed that there had been ‘some progress’, but added that Hamas continues to be a significant obstacle.

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