Israel is hoping to reach a new prisoner-hostage exchange deal with Hamas and a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip by January, according to Israeli officials.
The Israeli officials said that the deal would involve the release of some Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for a two-week humanitarian pause, the release of prominent Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of the army from certain areas in Gaza.
The negotiations are being mediated by Egypt and Qatar, who helped broker a weeklong cease-fire in November in which Hamas freed over 100 hostages in exchange for Israel’s release of 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and other groups are still holding about 129 captives.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for talks believed to focus on the cease-fire and the exchange deal.
The humanitarian pause would allow for the delivery of aid and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which has suffered widespread damage and casualties from Israeli attacks since October.
According to health officials in the enclave, at least 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7. Israel says 1,200 people were killed in the October attack by Hamas.
Earlier this week, Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea met CIA director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Warsaw to discuss efforts to reach a new deal with Hamas, according to multiple reports.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is eliminated.
