CIA Director William Burns on Sunday discussed a potential temporary Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal during a meeting with Israeli and Qatari officials.
This was reported by Axios citing three Israeli officers.
The deal aims for a 28-day pause in fighting, with Hamas releasing eight hostages and Israel releasing dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
A potential deal could improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza, free hostages and start the process for a more comprehensive settlement.
A breakthrough is unlikely before the presidential election, and Israel and Hamas will adjust their positions based on the results.
The potential deal fell short of Hamas’s demand that any deal include an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would only agree to a partial deal, not an end to the war, he said Axios.
“Israel agrees to a temporary pause, but Hamas wants a pause that would open a process that would lead to irreversible steps by Israel. If neither side softens their position, there will be no deal,” a senior Israeli official told Axios.
Egypt has offered a deal that includes a 12-day ceasefire and the release of four hostages, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said.
US officials told Axios they hoped the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar would make Israel more willing to end the war. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are expected to meet with Hamas representatives in the coming days to discuss the new plan.
On Monday, Israeli tanks pushed deeper into two towns in northern Gaza and the historic Jabalia refugee camp, where some 100,000 civilians are trapped.
The Israeli military said soldiers captured about 100 suspected Hamas fighters in a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Jabalia camp.
Hamas and medics denied the presence of militants in the hospital.
The Gaza Strip Health Ministry said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and bombardments on Monday, 13 of them in the northern part of the devastated coastal territory.
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