From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Report: US wants hostage deal in place before Ramadan; Hamas yet to agree on framework
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
The US is hoping that a hostage release deal and truce can be agreed upon before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Axios news site reports.
The report comes after Israeli negotiators return from Paris and officials say they have agreed to a framework for the deal.
However, Axios reports that moving to detailed negotiation still depends on Qatari and Egyptian negotiators getting Hamas to agree to the framework they presented at the talks in Paris.
According to Axios, the updated framework proposes that Hamas release some 40 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a six-week ceasefire and the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel.
The sources tell Axios that while this is similar to a previous framework, the current one is far more detailed.
The Times of Israel Community.