Gaza ceasefire talks 90% complete, Palestinian official tells BBC

In the ongoing conflict in Gaza, significant discussions are taking place aimed at establishing a ceasefire and facilitating the release of hostages. A senior Palestinian official involved in these negotiations informed the BBC that the talks are approximately 90% complete. However, there are still several critical issues that need to be addressed before a final agreement can be reached. One of the primary concerns is the continued presence of Israeli military forces in the Philadelphi corridor, a strategically vital area located in southern Gaza along the border with Egypt. The discussions are currently being held in Doha, where the possibility of creating a buffer zone several kilometers wide along the length of Israel's border with Gaza is being considered. According to the official, Israel would maintain a military presence within this buffer zone. If these matters can be resolved, a three-stage ceasefire could potentially be agreed upon within a matter of days. The proposed deal includes an exchange of 20 Palestinian prisoners for every female soldier released during the first stage of the ceasefire. The specific names of the prisoners involved in this exchange have yet to be finalized, but they will be selected from a pool of around 400 individuals who are currently serving lengthy prison sentences in Israel. Notably, it is expected that the prominent Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti will not be included in this exchange, as Israel is likely to veto his release. The release of Israeli hostages would occur in stages, as it is believed that Hamas still needs to locate some of the missing individuals. Out of the 96 hostages currently held in Gaza, Israeli authorities assume that 62 of them are still alive. Furthermore, the plan outlines provisions for Gazan civilians to return to the northern regions, under a system that would be overseen by Egyptian and Qatari authorities. The official indicated that approximately 500 trucks per day would be allowed to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. In the final stage of the three-phase plan, which aims to bring an end to the 14-month-long conflict, Gaza would be managed by a committee of technocrats who have no prior political affiliations but would receive support from all Palestinian factions. In recent weeks, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have resumed their mediation efforts and have reported a greater willingness from both sides to finalize a deal. A previous round of talks in mid-October did not yield a successful agreement, as Hamas rejected a short-term ceasefire proposal. Hamas, along with two other Palestinian militant groups, stated that reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is now closer than ever, provided that Israel refrains from imposing new conditions. In a statement shared on Telegram, the group revealed that they held a meeting in Cairo on Friday to discuss ongoing negotiation efforts with representatives from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The Palestinian Islamist armed group Hamas, which governs Gaza, launched an unprecedented cross-border attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals. Since then, more than 100 hostages have been released through negotiations or Israeli military rescue operations.