Ceasefire deal in sight: Israel and Hamas near historic agreement

Hamas has agreed to a draft agreement with Israel involving a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, reported the AP agency, citing two officials involved in the negotiations.

The authenticity of the agreement was confirmed to the Associated Press by an Egyptian official and a Hamas representative. An Israeli official acknowledged that the talks are progressing, although the details have yet to be fully established.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that the agreement is "closer than it's ever been," but it still requires final confirmation from Hamas. However, it should be noted that since the outbreak of the conflict on 7 October 2023, such statements have been made several times, usually followed by escalation from Tel Aviv.

Nevertheless, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar assured audiences in Rome that the government coalition will support the agreement once it is reached.

According to BBC sources, both sides have agreed that Hamas will release three hostages on the first day of the agreement's implementation, and Israel will begin withdrawing troops from the populated areas of the Gaza Strip.

The new phase of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ongoing since the 1940s, began after the attack by Hamas and other Palestinian organisations in southern Israel on 7 October 2023. As a result of this attack, approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were kidnapped.

The Israeli retaliation on the Gaza Strip resulted in the death of over 46,000 people, according to the local Ministry of Health. The region is devastated, and the humanitarian crisis has forced most civilians to leave their homes.