A Palestinian negotiator told the BBC that the Gaza-Israel truce negotiations are at the final stage

A Palestinian official has announced a three-stage plan that includes the release of civilians and female soldiers held hostage in Gaza in the first 45 days, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the city centers, the coastal road and the strategic strip of land on the border with Egypt. .

There will be a mechanism for displaced Gazans to return to the north of the territory, the official said.

In the second phase, the remaining hostages will be released, and in the third phase, the troops will be withdrawn before the end of the war.

Of the 96 hostages held in Gaza, 62 are believed to be still alive.

The plan appears to be based on the agreement announced by US President Joe Biden on May 31, and reports from all parties highlight that there are key details to work on.

In the round of negotiations held in mid-October, Hamas rejected the offer of a short-term ceasefire and did not reach an agreement.

“We haven’t been this close to a deal on hostages since the previous deal,” Katz told members of the Israeli parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Monday, referring to the November Israeli hostage and Palestinian prisoner swap, according to his spokesman. 2023.

He later wrote on X: “My position on Gaza is clear. After we defeat the military and government power of Hamas in Gaza, Israel will have full freedom of action and security control in Gaza,” comparing it to the situation in the occupied West Bank. . .

“We will not allow any terrorist activity against Israeli communities and Israeli citizens from Gaza. We will not allow a return to reality before October 7.”

Such comments are likely to be viewed as problematic by negotiators trying to bridge the gap with Hamas. In Israel, however, they are vital to securing the support of far-right Israeli cabinet ministers who have previously warned they would not agree to what they called a “reckless” deal in Gaza.

On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, carried out an unprecedented cross-border attack in southern Israel. About 1,200 people were killed and 253 were kidnapped.

More than 100 hostages were released as a result of negotiations or rescue operations by the Israeli army.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas’ governance and military capabilities. More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war, according to figures from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which are considered reliable by the UN and others.

Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, there is widespread destruction and mass starvation is now rife amid the ongoing struggle to get aid to those in need.

The victory of Donald Trump in the presidential elections in the United States in November gave a new impetus to diplomatic efforts.

At a press conference on Monday, he again warned that a ceasefire agreement must be reached before taking office, saying otherwise “it will not be pleasant”.