Talks in decisive phase | Three-point plan worked out;  hostage deal could be signed by the end of this week, says Hamas

Agencies

DOHA/CAIRO

After months of deadlock, there are new signs that Israel and Hamas could be moving closer to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.

A senior Palestinian official involved in the indirect negotiations told the BBC that talks were in a "decisive and final phase". Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, has also said an agreement is closer than ever.

If no issues arise, a hostage deal could be signed by the end of this week, a Hamas representative told the Saudi news outlet,  Asharq Al-Awsat.

The Wednesday report cited the official as stating that a deal was "imminent," with the main points having already been agreed upon. 

On Tuesday, officials with knowledge of the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post that a hostage deal could be achieved within a month, with significant advances being made. 

In recent weeks, the US, Qatar and Egypt have resumed their mediation efforts – reporting greater willingness by both sides in this 14-month war to conclude a deal.

An Israeli delegation described as "working level" is currently in the Qatari capital Doha amid a flurry of diplomatic comings and goings in the region.

The Palestinian official outlined a three-phase plan for the purpose. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, in the first stage of the agreement, which is supposed to last some 45-60 days, Hamas would release some 30 hostages, both alive and deceased, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. 

In addition, IDF troops would withdraw from cities within the Gaza Strip.

However, they would remain in the Philadelphi and Netazrim corridors. These corridors run parallel to the border with Egypt and cut across central Gaza, respectively. 

Palestinian women and children would be allowed to return to northern Gaza. 

A second stage would see remaining hostages freed and troops withdrawn before the third stage ending the war.

Of 96 hostages still held in Gaza, 62 are assumed by Israel to still be alive.

The plan appears to be based on the deal US President Joe Biden outlined on May 31 and reports from all sides stress there are key details to work out.

A round of talks in mid-October failed to produce a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal.

According to his spokesman, Katz told members of the Israeli parliament's foreign affairs committee on Monday, "We have not been this close to an agreement on the hostages since the previous deal." 

He was referring to an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israel in November 2023.