The deal aims to wind down the conflict, which has claimed over 36,000 lives, mostly women and children.
Israel and Hamas have accepted a framework deal to end the Gaza war, brokered by US President Joe Biden.
The deal aims to wind down the conflict, which has claimed over 36,000 lives, mostly women and children.
While Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aide, Ophir Falk, described the deal as "flawed" and needing more work, he confirmed Israel's acceptance of the framework, Reuters reports.
Falk emphasized that Israel's conditions, including the release of hostages and the destruction of Hamas as a terrorist organization, remain unchanged. The deal is seen as a significant development, as Biden's initial support for Israel's offensive has shifted to criticism of the high civilian death toll. The three-phase plan aims to bring an end to the over eight-month-long conflict.
The first phase entails a truce and the return of some hostages held by Hamas, after which the sides would negotiate on an open-ended cessation of hostilities for a second phase in which remaining live captives would go free, Biden said.
That sequencing appears to imply that Hamas would continue to play a role in incremental arrangements mediated by Egypt and Qatar - a potential clash with Israel's determination to resume the campaign to eliminate the Iranian-backed Islamist group.
However, Israel insists on temporary pauses until Hamas is destroyed, while Hamas demands a permanent end to the war and a comprehensive agreement meeting their demands, including: Israel's objective to destroy Hamas, Hamas's demand for a guaranteed end to the offensive and withdrawal of Israeli forces and Palestinian demands for free movement and reconstruction aid.
The conflict has resulted in devastating losses, with over 36,000 Palestinians and 290 Israeli troops killed. The political pressures on Netanyahu's government and Hamas's commitment to its demands make a lasting resolution challenging. A comprehensive agreement that addresses the underlying issues is crucial to ending the cycle of violence and achieving meaningful peace.