What’s happening:

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced that Israel and Hamas are taking initial steps to progress a potential hostages release deal. Despite the lack of confirmation from Hamas, residents of Rafah in Gaza celebrated an unofficial cease-fire.

Why it matters:

This development indicates a movement towards mitigating the current conflict in Gaza, which is significant considering the prolonged war and its dire humanitarian impact.

What’s next:

Details of the deal are still being finalized, with Qatar mediating the efforts to end the recent fighting in Gaza and establish a humanitarian pause. The Qataris are hopeful for complete agreement in the coming weeks.

Official Statements:

According to Majed Al Ansari, a Qatari spokesperson, Israel has agreed to the cease-fire terms possibly leading to the next halt in hostilities. However, an Israeli official states that Israel is awaiting an official update on the deal’s status.

Hamas Response:

Osama Hamdan, a leading Hamas figure in Lebanon, has negated any finalization of the hostages release saying, “We are still in the beginning stages and can’t talk about a deal yet,” while pinpointing past failed attempts due to actions by the “occupation.”

Local Reaction:

Gazans in Rafah were seen celebrating the unofficial cease-fire late Thursday. Social media footage depicted them exalting Hamas leadership with instances of euphoria across the city suggesting a yearning for peace and stability amid the conflict.

This story was first published on ynetnews.com.