Negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages are 90% completed, the BBC reports.

Key issues remain unresolved in the Gaza Strip, including Israel's presence in the Philadelphia Corridor, which is an important strip of land in southern Gaza along the border with Egypt. Negotiations are underway to create a buffer zone along Israel's border with Gaza, where Israel will maintain its military presence. According to the BBC source, three stages of a ceasefire could be agreed upon within a few days.

The agreement calls for an exchange of 20 Palestinian prisoners for every female soldier released in the first phase of the ceasefire. The names of the prisoners will be chosen from approximately 400 people serving prison sentences in Israel for 25 years or more. The release of the hostages will be gradual, taking into account the fact that Hamas must find the missing hostages.

Israel believes that of the 96 hostages held in Gaza, 62 remain alive. The final stage of the three-phase plan calls for Gaza to be governed by a committee of technocrats from the enclave with no political connections. This should lead to the end of the 14-month war.

Back in November, it was announced that Hamas was ready to conclude a ceasefire agreement with Israel. US President Joe Biden called for a focus on the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza following the ceasefire in Lebanon.

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