Media: 800 Palestinian prisoners could be freed in Gaza ceasefire deal

Ninety per cent of the Gaza deal is agreed upon, with the remaining issues being the hostage-prisoner swap and the Philadelphi Corridor, according to a senior Biden administration official.

The official noted, “Basically, 90% of this deal has been agreed on,” providing an overview of negotiations nearing completion, though significant challenges remain, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In Israel, the debate over the hostage deal has centred on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to agree to Hamas’s demand for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to withdraw from the critical buffer zone known as the Philadelphi Corridor.

Netanyahu has held two consecutive press conferences in both Hebrew and English to emphasise the importance of this buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza. Supporters of the deal have accused Netanyahu of obstructing progress, arguing that an agreement could have been reached if he had consented to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor.

The US official, however, portrayed a different scenario, focusing on issues with the hostage-prisoner swap and accusing Hamas of undermining the chances of a deal. Specifically, the official highlighted Hamas’s execution of six hostages while negotiations were ongoing about their release.

Remarkably, the Philadelphi Corridor has become a focal point in ceasefire discussions as Israel’s war on Gaza drags on, with the Palestinian death toll nearing 41,000.

In late May, Hamas and Israel seemed close to an agreement that would have seen Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza, the release of around 90 hostages held in Gaza by militant groups, and the release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli prisons. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently introduced four non-negotiable conditions, one of which included maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometre stretch of land bordering Egypt.

On September 2, Netanyahu reiterated his position: "The axis of evil needs the Philadelphi Corridor, and for that reason, we must retain control of it. Hamas insists that we not be there, and for that very reason, I insist that we are."