A ceasefire-hostage deal brokered by the US seems within reach, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday evening. The report quoted a senior US official who said on Wednesday that “the framework is agreed” and the parties are now “negotiating details of how it will be implemented.” The agreement consists of a three-stage resolution, with the first state a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages – all female and wounded hostages and men over 50 – in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian terrorists and a withdrawal of IDF troops from densely populated areas toward the eastern border of Gaza. The report added that Israel and Hamas both agreed to an “interim governance” plan that would begin with Phase 2. Neither Israel or Hamas would rule Gaza and instead “security would be provided by a force trained by the United States and backed by moderate Arab allies, drawn from a core group of about 2,500 supporters of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza who have already been vetted by Israel.” If security is reached in postwar Gaza, a third phase would include a “multi-year reconstruction plan.” The report claims that Qatar pressured Hamas to accept the deal by telling its leaders that they cannot remain in Doha if they rejected it. Additionally, “Egypt provided last-minute help by accepting an innovative U.S. proposal to block any new tunnels across the border between Egypt and Gaza after Israel withdraws its troops.” The report noted that “officials caution that although the framework is in place, a final pact probably isn’t imminent, and the details are complex and will take time to work through.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)