Hamas Accepts US Proposal To Begin Talks For Release Of Israeli Hostages: What's Next?

Hamas has agreed to a US proposal to start discussions on releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers and men, 16 days after the initial phase of a plan to end the Gaza war, a senior Hamas official told Reuters on Saturday.The militant group has dropped its demand that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire before signing the agreement. Instead, they will allow negotiations to pursue this goal during an initial six-week phase, the report said.A Palestinian official involved in the internationally mediated peace efforts stated that the proposal could lead to a framework agreement if accepted by Israel, potentially ending the nine-month-long war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.As per the report, the proposal assures that mediators will guarantee a temporary ceasefire, the delivery of aid, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops as long as indirect talks continue to implement the second phase of the agreement.Earlier last month, Israel's military announced a temporary halt to fighting during daytime hours along a route in southern Gaza to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians facing a crisis amid the war. The pause in the fighting was intended to allow aid trucks to reach the nearby Israel-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, the primary entry point for incoming aid, and to travel safely to the Salah a-Din highway, a main north-south route. The war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. It began after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israeli cities on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking nearly 250 people as hostages. In late November, dozens were released in a temporary ceasefire agreement, however, Israeli authorities claim that of the remaining 120 hostages, nearly one-third have died.