**Israel-Hamas Conflict: Deal on the Verge of Being Finalised**
The conflict in Gaza and the release of hostages are moving towards a resolution. An agreement between Israel and Hamas is being finalised, according to a Palestinian official.
US President Joe Biden said a deal was “on the verge” of being completed. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that negotiations were advanced and a deal could be reached within hours or days.
**Key Points of the Agreement**
Hamas will release three hostages on the first day after the agreement is made. Israel will then withdraw its troops from populated areas.
Seven days later, Hamas will release four more hostages. Israel will allow displaced southerners to return to northern Israel, but only by foot along the coastal road. A separate passage for cars and trucks will be monitored by a Qatari-Egyptian team.
During the first phase of the agreement, Israeli forces must remain in the Philadelphi Corridor and maintain a buffer zone along the eastern and north borders.
Israel has agreed to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 190 serving sentences of at least 15 years. In return, Hamas will release 34 hostages.
**Next Steps**
Negotiations for the second and third phases of the agreement will begin on the 16th day after the ceasefire.
US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Egypt’s president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to discuss the deal.
**Reaction from Families**
The father of an Israeli-American hostage, Jonathan Dekel Chen, told BBC Newshour that he wants to believe a deal has been reached. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said a deal might be reached “this week”.
**Recent Developments**
An Israeli air strike on Gaza City killed over 50 people on Monday, according to the Gaza civil defense agency.
Five soldiers were also killed in the north of Gaza Strip on Monday.
The conflict started with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Over 1,200 people died and 251 were taken hostage.
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