Jan 14, Kathmandu- Talks between Israeli and Hamas representatives are continuing in the Qatari capital Doha to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian official familiar with the talks said that for the first time in the war, Israeli and Hamas representatives are holding indirect talks in the same building, the BBC reported.

Hamas has also reportedly abandoned its demand for Israeli forces to withdraw from the Strip. US President Joe Biden has said a deal is on the way. An Israeli official also told Reuters news agency that a deal could be reached within hours or days at most.

The news that the talks are nearing a conclusion has come to light after Donald Trump, who will take office as US President on January 20, threatened that the situation would become dire if a ceasefire agreement was not reached.

Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. He also spoke with Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who is mediating the talks, on Monday. According to Palestinian officials, Hamas and Israeli officials held six hours of indirect talks in the same building on Monday.

Israeli media reported that the potential ceasefire deal would be implemented in three phases. In the first phase, 33 Israeli prisoners held in Gaza would be released. In return, Israel would release 50 Palestinian prisoners for each female soldier and 30 Palestinian prisoners for each Hamas prisoner.

Similarly, at the end of the first phase, Israel will fully withdraw its forces from the Philadelphia Corridor, an area between the Gaza and Egyptian borders. The second phase of the ceasefire will last 16 days and will see the release of the remaining men and soldiers held in Gaza.

The third phase of the agreement will address long-term arrangements, including the establishment of an alternative government in Gaza and a plan to rebuild it, Azazira said.