Israeli soldiers operate next to the UNRWA headquarters in the Gaza Strip, Feb. 8, 2024. (Credit: Jack Guez/AFP)
Hamas has told mediators it is willing to accept a temporary Israeli military presence in Gaza once a cease-fire is implemented, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Thursday.
This marks the first time the Palestinian group has agreed to two of Israel's key demands for a cease-fire, according to Arab mediators. The development raises hopes that an agreement could lead to the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, despite the repeated failure of past negotiations.
Corridor concessions
Hamas has recently shown increased "flexibility on several key issues," according to sources cited by the WSJ. Mediators report that the group is now open to allowing a temporary Israeli military presence in the Philadelphia Corridor, a small strip of land along the Gaza-Egypt border, and in the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the enclave in the middle. Hamas has also reportedly agreed to cede control of the Rafah crossing, located on the southern border with Egypt. "The militant group has also agreed it wouldn’t run or have a presence in the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing," wrote the WSJ.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the reports. However, Netanyahu stated on Monday that there had been some developments in cease-fire talks, though it was too early to predict whether an agreement would be reached.
This progress follows a visit by an Egyptian delegation to Israel in late November and a recent statement by President-elect Donald Trump on Truth Social, warning of “terrible consequences” in the Middle East if hostages are not released before he takes office in January. Egyptian and U.S. mediators are also aiming to capitalize on momentum from the cease-fire in Lebanon that ended the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, and which went into effect on Nov. 27.
"The timing for a deal may never have been better politically for Netanyahu," AFP reported Thursday. The prime minister told reporters on Monday that Hamas' increasing isolation following the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's rule opened the door to a possible hostage deal even if it was too early to claim success.
The public optimism of Israeli leaders over the past week has matched the general tone in internal discussions behind closed doors, an Israeli official told AFP.
For Netanyahu, concessions would be far easier now with Israel having reestablished its reputation as the most powerful Middle East force and its Iran-backed enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria now posing less of a threat.
Over the past year, some of the far-right ministers in his cabinet had voiced objections, even threatening to bring down the government, should the war in Gaza end. But with Israel's enemies weakened, and his coalition strengthened, Netanyahu is far less vulnerable politically.
Another 60-day cease-fire period?
As part of the latest proposal, Israel and Hamas are considering a 60-day ceasefire, during which up to 30 hostages, including U.S. citizens, would be released, according to mediators. In return, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners and facilitate increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Negotiations gained momentum this week, with an Israeli delegation visiting Cairo on Tuesday, shortly after Hamas officials traveled to the Egyptian capital. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to visit Israel, Egypt and Qatar this week to support efforts toward an agreement, mediators told the WSJ.
Hamas, which had previously rejected these Israeli conditions, has shown more willingness to compromise following Hezbollah’s agreement to a cease-fire in Lebanon and the death of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader who had conditioned an agreement on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The Palestinian movement is currently led by a collective leadership, including members from the Palestinian diaspora, until a successor to Sinwar is appointed.
Hostage list
Hamas has provided a list of hostages to mediators in Cairo, including U.S. citizens, that it plans to release as part of a potential cease-fire agreement. This marks the first time since the war's cease-fire in late November 2023 that the group has made such a commitment. The list includes women, the elderly and those with health issues, as well as the bodies of five deceased hostages, according to Arab mediators.
The group has also provided a list of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli jails, whose release it demanded as part of the deal.
Hostages could be freed shortly after the agreement is signed, and more time would be given to Hamas to confirm the names, locations and health conditions of the remaining captives, the mediators said.
“A prisoner exchange deal requires both parties, and thus the enemy must make a political decision to reach a cornerstone agreement,” Hamas said in a statement to the WSJ.
Israeli negotiators are currently seeking to increase the number of hostages released in the initial phase of the ceasefire, while agreeing to a gradual withdrawal from the Philadelphia corridor. Israel also informed the negotiators that it was willing to reposition its forces in other parts of Gaza, but rejected the request to limit its presence elsewhere, notably in the north of the enclave.
Israeli negotiators are seeking to secure the release of more hostages in the initial phase of the cease-fire while agreeing to a gradual withdrawal from the Philadelphia corridor. Israel has also offered to reposition forces in some parts of the enclave but rejected a request to limit its presence in other parts including the northern Gaza.
At least 30 killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours
The last round of cease-fire talks broke down over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence that Israeli forces remain in the strategic corridors mentioned above. Disagreements also included the cease-fire's duration, — temporary or permanent cessation of hostilities — the security of Gaza's borders with Egypt and Israel, as well as the number of hostages that remain alive and Palestinian detainees to be exchanged.
As of now, Israel claims there are 96 hostages remaining in Gaza, including Israelis and dual nationals, with at least 30 believed to be dead. The war was triggered by Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and resulted in around 250 hostages being taken to the enclave.
Since then, the Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,786 Palestinians, most of whom were civilians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. In the last 24 hours, at least 30 people were killed in Israeli strikes on the Nusseirat refugee camp and on a humanitarian convoy in Rafah, according to Gaza Civil Defense.