Hamas Agrees to Key Israeli Demands in Ceasefire Deal, Hostage List Includes US Citizens

Hamas has agreed to meet two critical Israeli demands as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing Arab mediators involved in the talks.

For the first time, Hamas indicated it would accept a deal permitting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to remain in Gaza temporarily during the ceasefire period.

Additionally, Hamas provided a list of hostages it would release under the agreement, which reportedly includes US citizens.

This development marks a potential breakthrough, as Hamas has not released any hostages since November last year. The proposed deal, brokered by Egypt and supported by the United States, seeks to capitalize on momentum from a recent ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

Negotiations have intensified in recent days. On Wednesday, Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to Doha to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to advance talks on the ceasefire and hostage release. The goal is to finalize the agreement before January 20, the date of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The proposed deal could pave the way for direct discussions between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of hostages and de-escalate the conflict in Gaza.