Washington, 19 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - According to a report in the Washington Post, Israel and Hamas are close to reaching an agreement on a ceasefire.

In an agreement negotiated under US mediation, the two warring parties are considering a five-day ceasefire during which dozens of Israeli hostages held by the Islamist terrorist organisation in the Gaza Strip could be released.

The newspaper reported this on Saturday evening, citing people familiar with the negotiations.

In response to the article, US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson wrote on Platform X: "We have not reached a deal yet, but we continue to work hard to get to a deal."

According to the Washington Post, the release of the hostages could begin in the next few days, provided there are no last-minute problems. The cessation of hostilities should also allow significantly more humanitarian aid, including fuel, to reach the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

The draft agreement had been worked out in weeks of talks in the Qatari capital Doha between Israel, the USA and Hamas.

Photo: MIA Archive