DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas are “90% complete,” though key issues remain unresolved, a senior Palestinian official involved in the talks told the BBC Saturday.
The proposed three-stage agreement could be reached within days, according to the official, who detailed plans for a prisoner exchange and the gradual release of hostages. A major sticking point remains Israel’s military presence in the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt.
The emerging deal includes provisions for a buffer zone along Israel’s border with Gaza, where Israeli forces would maintain a military presence. Under the proposed agreement, Hamas would release hostages in phases, exchanging 20 Palestinian prisoners for each female Israeli soldier freed in the initial stage.
The Palestinian prisoners would be selected from approximately 400 individuals serving sentences of 25 years or more in Israeli prisons, though senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti is not expected to be included due to likely Israeli objections.
Of the 96 hostages still held in Gaza, Israeli authorities believe 62 remain alive. The official noted that Hamas needs time to locate some missing hostages, necessitating the phased release approach.
The plan would allow Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza under Egyptian and Qatari supervision, with approximately 500 aid trucks entering the territory daily. The final phase would establish governance by non-politically affiliated Gaza technocrats, supported by all Palestinian factions.
Hamas, along with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said in a joint statement Saturday that a ceasefire agreement is “closer than ever before” if Israel “stops imposing new conditions.”
The negotiations follow the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. More than 100 hostages have since been freed through negotiations or Israeli military operations.
Recent weeks have seen renewed mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, with reports of increased willingness from both sides to reach an agreement. Previous talks in mid-October failed when Hamas rejected a short-term ceasefire proposal.
