An Israeli government official who asked to remain anonymous has said “real progress” has been made over the past few days in ceasefire negotiations, saying the talks had entered a critical and sensitive period.
“This is the only time since November 2023 that we are really negotiating with Hamas and they’re not playing a game of negotiation,” he said, with the two sides in “detailed negotiation about hundreds and thousands of details”.
But, he said, while a deal was close, “it’s not there yet”.
The official confirmed that 33 names were on the list of hostages due to be released in the first phase of a ceasefire deal, and that Israel was waiting for Hamas to confirm how many of them were still alive.
He said Israel was negotiating the “price” for nine ill and injured hostages, due to be released in that first phase.
He also said security arrangements for “hundreds” of Palestinian prisoners, due to be released in exchange for the hostages, were also now being discussed, with Israel stipulating that those convicted of murder would not be released into the West Bank.
The official also outlined Israel’s security parameters during any ceasefire, including maintaining a buffer zone along Gaza’s border with Israel, monitoring of civilians returning to their homes in northern areas, and measures to stop Hamas smuggling weapons across the southern Philadelphi Strip.
He said the weakening of Hamas allies across the region, internal pressures on the group, and the involvement of both the outgoing and incoming US administrations had created “new possibilities” for a deal.
And that Israel, while it was focusing on the first stage of the proposed deal, was also keeping assets for future stages of negotiations.
“We will not leave the Gaza Strip until all our hostages are back home,” he said.
