Israel-Gaza war live: Ceasefire and hostage deal ‘right on brink’, says US, as hopes rise for agreement
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In today’s First Edition newsletter, my colleague Archie Bland discussed with the Guardian’s senior international correspondent, Julian Borger the prospects for a peace deal:. “We have been told that it’s now just a question of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts,” Julian Borger said. “But we have been here before.”.
![[An Israeli military helicopter lands inside North Gaza, as seen from Israel.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7a1ca268790b22df28272bb60564ea85b808f73/0_54_5500_3302/master/5500.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“There appears to have been a breakthrough overnight on Monday,” Julian said. “We don’t know exactly what that was about. Previously, the speed and extent of Israel’s withdrawal has been a sticking point.”. Donald Trump’s return has changed the calculus on Israel’s side. “We’ve had at least eight months of counterfactuals,” Julian said. “Because the far right always threatened to bring down Netanyahu, the logic has pointed to no deal. But the imminence of Trump’s return is an X factor here.”.
![[Palestinians at Awda hospital in Gaza Citymourn loved ones killed by an Israeli strike on Nuseirat refugee camp, 15 January.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/2faacc56ad02f76683f9bb93d3c129cc3a8770b1/0_0_4464_2976/master/4464.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Here’s what is in the prospective deal, according to a draft seen by Reuters yesterday:. Hostage return: The first stage, lasting 60 days, would see 33 hostages held in Gaza – children, women including female soldiers, men older than 50, the wounded and the sick – freed gradually over a six-week period in return for the release of around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Troop withdrawal: Israel would begin a phased pull-back of its troops and leave parts of the Philadelphi corridor that runs along the border between Gaza and Egypt. Movement within Gaza: Unarmed residents would be allowed back into north Gaza, and the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza would begin a gradual reopening.
