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"It seems to be going in a positive direction, but [we] must be careful. We know this from past experiences," a source told The Jerusalem Post.
By AMICHAI STEIN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF JANUARY 13, 2025 10:27 Updated: JANUARY 13, 2025 11:01
A Hamas terrorists in front of hostage posters. (Illustrative)
(photo credit: Canva, Hamas Military Wing/Handout via REUTERS, Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
A three-stage deal to release the hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza has been reached, and parties are awaiting Hamas's response, a source told The Jerusalem Post on Monday morning.
"The hostage deal outline is clear, and Israel has come a long, long way," an Israeli official told the Post.
"We are moving forward slowly and carefully. We hope that Hamas will stop with its refusals." the official added.
Though other deals have failed due to lack of cooperation from Hamas and their negotiators, sources close to the negotiations have expressed optimism that the Gaza-based terror group will accept Israel's proposals.
"It seems to be going in a positive direction, but [we] must be careful. We know this from past experiences," the source told the Post Monday morning.
Moving forward on a deal?
Hamas sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to end the war following the completion of the first phase of a ceasefire deal.
Al Araby reported that there has been a "clear shift" in Netanyahu's position regarding "the process of completing the war after the first stage [of a ceasefire deal]."
The article comes after KAN News reported that Qatar sent Israel "a positive message" regarding Hamas's intentions to move forward in negotiations on a hostage and ceasefire deal.
A source from Hamas told the London-based news outlet that some of the changes were regarding agreements to postpone discussions on some contentious issues until later stages of the negotiations.
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