Israel and Hamas close to reaching Gaza ceasefire agreement, media reports

The Israeli government and the radical Palestinian group Hamas have made substantial progress in negotiations and are nearing a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, Report informs, citing TASS.

The sources indicate that a cessation of hostilities in the enclave now appears to be a "more realistic prospect than at any point in the past year." Reflecting the progress in talks, an Israeli delegation traveled to Doha this week "to restore relations with mediators" regarding the potential deal.

The optimism on the Israeli side was echoed by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who emphasized during a parliamentary speech on December 16 that achieving a truce is "closer than ever."

According to Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, there is a possibility of reaching an agreement with Hamas that would secure the release of all remaining hostages. The implementation of the ceasefire plan would be carried out in stages, beginning even before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The first phase would involve the release of hostages over the age of 51, as well as women and those with various illnesses, from Hamas captivity. In exchange, Israel would grant amnesty to Palestinians serving sentences in the Jewish state. This stage also includes establishing a ceasefire regime for 6-7 weeks and initiating negotiations for a sustainable truce. During this period, trucks carrying humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter Gaza to assist the enclave's residents.