Hamas says it has agreed to a proposal to stop the war in Gaza and exchange Israeli prisoners with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian armed group told Al Jazeera Arabic that its delegation had delivered its approval of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement to the mediators. Israel has not yet announced its response to the proposal.

This news comes after mediators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt reported this Reaching a potential agreement to stop the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing for 15 months, has become closer than ever before It could be snatched away very soon but nothing is guaranteed. They said that the agreement could begin implementation “immediately” after signing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet his cabinet on Thursday, according to Israeli media reports.

Three stages

Reuters reported, citing an official familiar with the talks, that the proposed agreement would take place in three stages. In an initial phase of six weeks, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from central Gaza and Palestinians will be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza.

Reuters reported that Hamas will release 33 Israeli prisoners during those six weeks, including all female and civilian soldiers, children and men over the age of 50. Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every civilian prisoner released, and 50 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli soldier.

Talks on the second phase will begin by the sixteenth day of the first phase, and are expected to include the release of the remaining prisoners and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Reuters reported that the third phase is expected to include the return of bodies and the start of reconstruction in Gaza.

Netanyahu held a meeting on Wednesday with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz. After the meeting, Smotrich posted a video in which he said: “There is only one thing before my eyes, which is achieving all the goals of the war.”

Both Smotrich and controversial National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir directly oppose the agreement, and threatened again this week that they could withdraw from the government if it passes. Ben Gvir met with a number of Knesset representatives on Wednesday.

Israel previously said that the main goal of its war was to “destroy” Hamas, in addition to securing the release of prisoners still being held in Gaza.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Tuesday that Hamas had recruited a number of new fighters almost equal to the number it lost in its war with Israel, adding that the group could not be defeated through a “military campaign alone.”

Washington is also trying to rally its allies behind the idea of ​​a “reform” Palestinian Authority. Ultimate pocket control To prevent the return of Hamas.

On Wednesday, representatives of some 85 countries gathered at Oslo City Hall to discuss ways to move toward a two-state solution. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said it was time to address “what will happen after the ceasefire.”

Families of Israelis still detained in Gaza once again held large-scale demonstrations in Tel Aviv and elsewhere on Tuesday night, demanding a deadline for reaching an agreement.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Israeli affairs analyst Dan Perry said that the prospect of a ceasefire generates two main reactions in Israel: first, joy at the potential release of Israeli prisoners and the end of the war, and second, concern that Hamas, although militarily depleted, will effectively be abandoned. in power.

“It is clear that if Israel withdraws from Gaza, Hamas will remain in power,” Perry said. “For this reason, I think many will blame Netanyahu because there is a clear alternative to Hamas in the form of the Palestinian Authority.”

“People are dying every hour”

As the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement approaches the finish line, the Israeli army said and intensifying deadly attacks Throughout the Gaza Strip.

Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 59 people were killed in the Israeli attacks on Wednesday.

The situation for the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza remains tragic Air and ground attacks continue Most of the aid is banned by Israel.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday that Israeli attacks since the beginning of the war have killed at least 46,707 Palestinians, an increase of 62 from the previous day. She added that the number of wounded also rose to at least 110,265 people.

Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera’s correspondent from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, said that people in Gaza are monitoring developments in Doha, but at the same time, people are dying every hour.

“The more we hear about a potential ceasefire agreement, the more attacks will occur, and the more families will be targeted and killed. In the past 72 hours, more people have been targeted inside residential homes.

They included a family targeted in an overnight attack in Deir al-Balah that killed at least 12 people, including children, and an air strike on the Bureij refugee camp, where Israeli bombs killed at least five people.

The Israeli army also ordered new forced displacements, this time of Palestinians living in the Jabalia area in northern Gaza, where a siege lasting more than 100 days has left more than 5,000 people dead or missing so far.

On Wednesday, Israeli bombing cut off electricity to the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza, as attacks on healthcare facilities continued after the Israeli army bombing. Kamal Adwan Hospital was burned Last month, its manager was arrested.