Israel and Hamas Agree to Hostage Release and Interim Governance Plan for Gaza; 56% of Israelis Support Deal

Jul 10, 2024, 11:23 PM

Israel has achieved a significant breakthrough in its conflict with Hamas, leading to the first hostage release deal. Under relentless Israeli military pressure and heavy battlefield losses, Hamas has reportedly given up on the demand that Israel leaves the Gaza Strip as part of the deal to release the hostages held for nine months. Reports indicate that 56% of Israelis support a deal to release all hostages and end the war in Gaza, according to data from the Israel Democracy Institute. Additionally, a senior U.S. official confirmed that both Israel and Hamas have signaled their acceptance of an 'interim governance' plan for Gaza, which would see neither side ruling the territory. Security in Gaza would be provided by a force trained by the United States and backed by moderate Arab states, as reported by the Washington Post.