US said to float new language for hostage-ceasefire deal in effort to get Hamas buy-in

The United States has proposed new language for parts of the proposed hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in an effort to reach an agreement, Axios reports, citing three sources with direct knowledge.

The news site says the amended text, which the US is working on as part of the latest mediation push with Qatar and Egypt, concerns negotiations set to be held after the deal takes effect that are meant to determine the conditions for the second phase of the agreement. Hamas reportedly wants these talks to solely address how many and which Palestinian prisoners will be released in return for all living male hostages, while Israel wants to discuss the demilitarization of Gaza and other matters.

“The US is working very hard to find a formula that will allow reaching a deal,” one of the sources is quoted as saying, while the other predicts that the agreement can be sealed if Hamas okays the changes.