Amid the continuation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Hamas has agreed to a proposal presented by the United States to start talks regarding the release of Israeli hostages. The decision was disclosed by a senior Hamas source to Reuters, marking a significant development after 16 days of efforts to bring an end to the lengthy war in the region.
Hamas has specified certain prerequisites for the agreement, indicating that Israel must first commit to a permanent ceasefire before proceeding with negotiations. The group has expressed readiness to engage in discussions during the initial six-week stage of talks while emphasizing the importance of reaching a lasting ceasefire, as revealed by an anonymous source familiar with the confidential nature of the discussions.
An individual involved in the mediation process toward a truce mentioned that if Israel approves the proposal, there is potential for a comprehensive framework agreement that could potentially bring an end to the conflict that started in Gaza on October 7 of the previous year, resulting in a significant loss of lives. The conflict escalated when Hamas fighters carried out multiple attacks on southern Israeli towns through various means, leading to the capture of a considerable number of hostages and the deaths of numerous Israelis.