Israel-Hamas War: US Says New Hostage Deal Proposed by Hamas is a “Breakthrough”

In the last development in the war, the US government has identified a significant opportunity for a hostage deal between ...

In the last development in the war, the US government has identified a significant opportunity for a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. The US government thinks there’s a good chance to finalize a deal between Israel and Hamas to stop the nine-month war in Gaza and free Israeli hostages held there.

After US President Joe Biden talked with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 30 minutes on Thursday, a senior official said they made progress on a key disagreement.

The official warned that a deal wouldn’t happen quickly, saying, “It won’t come together in a few days,” but also mentioned, “We think there’s a good chance it could happen.”

There is newfound hope because Hamas has responded positively to the latest proposal from mediators. In the past, optimism has been dashed due to disagreements between Israel and Hamas over key terms.

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Mediators from the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been working for months to negotiate a deal between Israel and Hamas. The proposed agreement would start with a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and the release of women, elderly, and wounded individuals held captive there.

After the initial ceasefire, which mediators hope will bring an end to the war, there would be a longer period of peace. During this time, the rest of the hostages would be freed.

As part of the deal, Israel would release Palestinian prisoners to secure the release of the hostages. They would also permit more aid to enter Gaza and allow displaced Gazans to return to their homes throughout the enclave, including the northern areas.

The US and other mediators believe that reaching a deal to free hostages is the most practical way to end the ongoing war and reduce tensions in the region. This includes frequent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran.

Recently, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah met with senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in Lebanon. They discussed the current negotiations, the atmosphere surrounding them, and the proposals aimed at stopping the aggressive actions against Palestinians in Gaza.

Previously, mediators believed they were close to a deal in May, but talks stalled due to disagreements. Hamas insisted that any agreement must guarantee a permanent ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza to be included.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the idea that a hostage deal alone would end the war. In May, despite opposition from the US and other Western allies, he proceeded with an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, home to over 1 million displaced people.

Netanyahu also faces pressure from his far-right allies, who are crucial to his coalition’s survival, not to halt the offensive in Gaza or make concessions to Hamas after the war was triggered by an attack from the Palestinian group on October 7.