Negotiations for a hostage release deal and a ceasefire agreement in Gaza have accelerated. According to Egyptian sources, an agreement is within reach, though intelligence and diplomatic discussions have not yet yielded a tangible breakthrough.
Turkey is reportedly playing a role in the talks. Increased pressure on the Israeli government has led Cairo to believe that a pause in fighting in Gaza could support renewed talks on normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The current framework links the partial release of hostages to a broader regional agreement, potentially encompassing normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, involvement in the reconstruction of Lebanon and Syria, and a framework for renewed political dialogue aimed at resolving the Palestinian issue.
Egypt has submitted a proposal for a hostage deal and ceasefire agreement, which is now under consultation. The offer reportedly includes the release of eight hostages in exchange for a ceasefire lasting between 40 and 70 days.