Israel is thinking of making a hostage deal with Hamas.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Israel, Hamas, and the US are close to reaching an agreement that would see Hamas release 50 women and children who were taken hostage during the terror attack on October 7 in exchange for a four-to five-day ceasefire and the release of three Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails for each hostage released. It is also anticipated that the Palestinian detainees will be female and teenage.

Following sessions of the nation’s security and war cabinets, Israel’s cabinet met to discuss the agreement on Tuesday and continued into the early hours of Wednesday local time.

“We’re moving forward. At his Tuesday meeting with reservists, Netanyahu stated, “I don’t think it’s worth saying more, even at this moment, but I hope there will be good news soon.”

Although there is still work to be done, US officials who are closely involved in the negotiations have expressed optimism that the many weeks of arduous labor will soon pay off with the release of the hostages.

A deal would force Israel to take its first significant de-escalation measure and a prolonged ceasefire since the start of the conflict.

According to a source who spoke to CNN, the captives who are set to be freed come from a variety of countries. The Americans are hopeful that Abigail Edan, the youngest American hostage, who was killed by Hamas, would be among them. Abigail is three years old. The number of additional American individuals that would first be released as hostages by Hamas under the agreement was not immediately apparent.

A source acquainted with the negotiations claims that the group claims the hostages that Hamas promised for first release are still alive.

According to an Israeli government source who spoke to CNN, the Israeli government wants to see at least 50 captives released as part of the agreement that is being discussed on Tuesday—ten per day for five days. If Hamas were willing to free more captives, the administration would be willing to prolong the agreement.

In the proposed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israel initially demanded the cessation of its aerial surveillance over Gaza, but later agreed to a compromise where surveillance drones would vacate Gaza’s airspace for six hours each day. This time window is seen as crucial for Hamas to potentially move hostages without revealing their locations.

The agreement also stipulates that during the ceasefire, Hamas will gather any additional women and children hostages. The ceasefire, while temporary, might be extended to facilitate more hostage releases. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has indicated that the war would resume after the pause, emphasizing that the ceasefire would allow the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for continued fighting and maintain intelligence efforts and troop security.

Hamas, in the negotiations, has demanded significant aid, particularly fuel, which is vital for its military operations and for maintaining its network of underground tunnels in Gaza. The negotiation source expressed hope that a successful hostage deal could lead to an increase in aid entering Gaza, aiming for 400 trucks of aid per day.

Weeks of talks are almost finished.

The proposed agreement between Israel, Hamas, and the United States, with Qatar as a mediator, comes after extensive negotiations. Qatar delivered a draft of the hostage deal to the Israelis, as confirmed by Majid Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agreement’s implementation is not set to begin immediately and might take at least a day to commence, mainly due to the legal procedures Israel needs to adhere to before it can release any Palestinian prisoners. While the Israeli government’s approval is required for the prisoners’ release, it is not anticipated to be a significant hurdle.

As Israeli cabinet officials convened in the Israeli Defense building to deliberate on the deal, families of the hostages gathered outside, demonstrating with banners and drums, awaiting the outcome of the discussions.

Two right-wing parties in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, the Religious Zionism party and the Jewish Power party, expressed their opposition to the hostage deal under consideration by the Israeli government. The Religious Zionism party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, criticized the deal for being detrimental to Israel’s security, the well-being of the hostages, and IDF soldiers. They advocated for continued military pressure on Hamas until its complete surrender. Similarly, the Jewish Power party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, stated difficulties in supporting the deal.

Their statements implied that they had not been fully briefed on the terms of the deal. Despite this opposition, diplomatic sources and officials, including US President Joe Biden, have been optimistic about the progress of the talks. However, they also acknowledged that any agreement could be disrupted by actions from Hamas or developments in Gaza.

Hamas’ leader indicated that the parties were nearing a truce agreement. This development followed a meeting between Netanyahu, the war cabinet, and families of the hostages.

Israel reports that Hamas holds over 200 hostages in Gaza. The initial focus of the negotiations is on the release of women and children, with further discussions anticipated for the release of other hostages.

Two right-wing parties in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, the Religious Zionism party and the Jewish Power party, expressed their opposition to the hostage deal under consideration by the Israeli government. The Religious Zionism party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, criticized the deal for being detrimental to Israel’s security, the well-being of the hostages, and IDF soldiers. They advocated for continued military pressure on Hamas until its complete surrender. Similarly, the Jewish Power party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, stated difficulties in supporting the deal.

Their statements implied that they had not been fully briefed on the terms of the deal. Despite this opposition, diplomatic sources and officials, including US President Joe Biden, have been optimistic about the progress of the talks. However, they also acknowledged that any agreement could be disrupted by actions from Hamas or developments in Gaza.

Hamas’ leader indicated that the parties were nearing a truce agreement. This development followed a meeting between Netanyahu, the war cabinet, and families of the hostages.

Israel reports that Hamas holds over 200 hostages in Gaza. The initial focus of the negotiations is on the release of women and children, with further discussions anticipated for the release of other hostages.

What to expect

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is expected to play a key role in the release process of the hostages in Gaza, including verifying identities and facilitating the transfer of individuals across borders. The ICRC has a history of acting as an intermediary in such exchanges, as seen in their involvement in previous hostage releases by Hamas.

Gershon Baskin, an Israeli peace activist known for his role in the 2011 release of Gilad Shalit, predicts that hostages in Gaza will be transported by Red Cross vehicles to Egypt, and then to Israel, likely via ambulances or buses. Once in Israel, immediate medical attention is expected for the hostages, as stated by National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, due to the likelihood of their poor health conditions.

Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the ICRC, has met with the political leader of Hamas in Qatar, underscoring the organization’s readiness to facilitate future releases agreed upon by the conflicting parties.

The U.S. government, under President Joe Biden’s direct involvement, has been actively working to secure the release of the hostages, including Americans believed to be held by Hamas. Biden has been in direct communication with Netanyahu, the Qatari Emir, and the Egyptian President regarding this matter. Senior U.S. officials, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and CIA Director Bill Burns, have been engaged in continuous efforts to facilitate the hostages’ release, with recent travels to the Middle East by Brett McGurk, the NSC Middle East coordinator, focusing largely on this issue.

We will be updating this story as it develops.