Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is 90% complete

US officials, along with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, have been working for months to reach a deal to end the conflict in Gaza, but the process has become more urgent after the killing of six Hamas hostages in Gaza. US officials say they are preparing to present a final proposal to the parties soon, but the issues surrounding the release of prisoners and the redeployment of Israeli forces in Gaza have yet to be resolved.

This is not the first time that US negotiators have described progress as entering its final stages, only to have their hopes dashed.

The difficult negotiations have prompted families of American hostages held by Hamas to pressure the White House to seek a separate deal with Hamas. So far, U.S. officials have said they are focused on a broader agreement.

In a statement on September 4, a senior US administration official revealed the latest details regarding key terms in the negotiations.

The new agreement does not mention the length of the Egypt-Gaza border known as the Philadelphia Corridor. According to the official, of the 18-paragraph proposal proposed by the US, 14 have reached consensus. The US government believes this latest proposal is the best chance to secure the release of the hostages.

“We still consider this agreement necessary, although it is very complicated to reach. But it is probably the most feasible option to save the hostages, end the war, and immediately release the people of Gaza,” the unnamed official stressed.

The deal on the table now includes the initial release of about 800 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, some of whom are serving life sentences. Those released include women, the elderly, and the injured or sick.

Despite optimism from the US, both Israel and Hamas have proven to be tough negotiators.

This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held two press conferences and asserted that maintaining permanent control of the Philadelphia corridor is important to Israel's security.

“The first objective of the war is to eliminate Hamas’s military and administrative capabilities. The second is to free Israeli hostages and the third is to ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel. All three of these objectives will only be achieved if Israel controls the Philadelphia corridor,” Netanyahu said on September 4.

Responding to the Israeli leader's statements, US officials commented that the statements were not constructive.

“In my view, the less said about specific issues, the better. It is not always helpful to take specific positions in the middle of a negotiation,” the official said.

On Hamas' side, although the movement has always said it is ready to negotiate and end the war, the group's recent move to kill 6 hostages has also challenged the ongoing negotiation process.

This week, Hamas said gunmen holding hostages in buildings and tunnels in Gaza had been given “new instructions” on what to do with them if Israeli troops closed in.

While negotiators are working to close the gap, it is unclear when direct talks will resume. The latest round of talks ended last week without a deal. “We want to get this proposal done as soon as possible and get it to Israel and Hamas and then try to reach a final agreement,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on September 4.