What is the possible deal for the hostages and the truce in Gaza?

The American leader has stepped up pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to secure a permanent ceasefire and an end to the 21-month war in Gaza.

Trump said on Tuesday in social media that Israel had agreed to “on the conditions needed to finalise” an agreement on a ceasefire.

And Hamas, who heads Palestinian coastal territory, said on Friday that he has responded to the US-backed proposal with a positive “breath”, records the telegraph.

So, what's involved in the plan?

The plan is for an initial 60-day ceasefire that will include a partial release of hostages held by the militant group, in exchange for allowing more humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

The proposed ceasefire calls for talks to end the war altogether.

The Gaza war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Tens of hostages have since been freed or rescued by Israeli forces, while another 50 remain captives, including about 30 that Israel believes are dead.

The proposal was said to see about half of the living hostages and about half of the dead hostages returned to Israel during 60 days, in five separate releases.

Eight living hostages would be released on the first day and two would be released on the 50th day, according to an Arab diplomat from one of the mediating countries.

Five dead hostages would return on the seventh day, five more on the 30th day, and eight others on the 60th day.

This would leave 22 hostages still held in Gaza, 10 believed to be alive. It is not clear whether Israel or Hamas will determine who will be released.

Hamas has sought assurance that the initial ceasefire would lead to a full end of the war, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

A Hamas official has said Trump has guaranteed that the ceasefire will extend beyond 60 days if necessary to reach a peace agreement, but there is no US confirmation of such a guarantee.

Possible Challenges Ahead

And in a sign of the possible challenges both sides still face, a Palestinian official from an Allied militant group with Hamas said concerns remained.

Concerns were on humanitarian aid, crossing the Rafah border to southern Israel to Egypt, and clarity on a time for the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Hamas' “-positive response to the proposal had slightly different formulas on three issues about humanitarian aid, Israeli Protection Forces status (IDF) within Gaza and language about guarantees beyond the 60-day ceasefire, revealed a source of knowledge of negotiations.

But the source told Sky News: “Things are looking good”.

The Times of Israel reported that Hamas has proposed three changes under the proposed framework.

According to one source, Hamas wants the agreement to say that the permanent ceasefire talks will continue until an agreement is reached; that aid will resume fully through mechanisms supported by the United Nations and other international aid organisations; and that the IDF withdraws to the positions it held prior to the fall of the previous ceasefire in March.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement that the changes demanded by Hamas in the ceasefire proposal were “unacceptable to Israel”.

However, his office said the delegation would fly back to Qatar to try to ensure the return of our hostages based on the Qatar proposal Israel accepted”.

Another possible challenge is that Mr. Netanyah has repeatedly said that Hamas must disarm, a request the militant group has so far refused to discuss.

Hamas has said he is willing to release all hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and a war in Gaza.

Israel rejects this offer, saying it will agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile something the group rejects.

Previous negotiations have stalled due to Hamas' demands for guarantees that further negotiations would lead to the end of the war, while Netanyah has insisted Israel will resume fighting to ensure the group's destruction. /Periscope/