Hamas is anticipated to release 33 hostages as part of the first phase of a ceasefire-hostage deal being negotiated in Doha, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing two Israeli officials.
According to the report, Israel believes that most of the 33 hostages are alive, although the initial release may include some deceased individuals. Hamas and its allies currently hold 94 hostages, including at least 34 believed to have died, following the October 7, 2023, attacks.
Negotiations appear to be nearing completion, with Israel prepared to implement the agreement once finalized. A diplomat involved in the talks confirmed that a final round of discussions is scheduled to take place in Doha on Tuesday.
The agreement marks the first phase of the deal, with further negotiations aimed at ending the conflict set to begin 16 days after the initial implementation.
The plan reportedly includes contentious provisions, such as the presence of Israeli forces along the Philadelphi Corridor at the Egypt-Gaza border during the initial phase. Disagreements persist over the size of a buffer zone within Gaza, with Hamas proposing a 300-500 meter zone and Israel seeking a 2,000-meter area.
Other key points of the agreement include the return of northern Gaza residents under unspecified security measures and restrictions on the release of Palestinian prisoners linked to the killing of Israelis, who would be relocated to Gaza or other countries instead of the West Bank.
The breakthrough in negotiations reportedly occurred late Sunday during a meeting between Israeli Mossad Director David Barnea and mediators in Doha. However, the deal must still be approved by Israel’s security and government cabinets and could face challenges in the Supreme Court.
“There is talk of an agreement in the near future—it is impossible to say whether it is a matter of hours or days,” an Israeli official told CNN.
While optimism surrounding the deal grows, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged caution, reiterating its commitment to ensuring the return of all hostages.
The conflict escalated after Hamas’s October 7 attacks, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 people being taken hostage. Since then, Israeli military operations have reportedly led to the deaths of at least 46,565 Palestinians in Gaza, with over 100,000 others injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.