In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a ceasefire agreement is reportedly being negotiated under the mediation of the United States. According to reports from the Palestinian al-Quds newspaper, Hamas is considering agreeing to a ceasefire, which would entail the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the besieged Gaza Strip.

The negotiations come after a Hamas delegation, including representatives from Egypt and CIA director William Burns, met in Cairo on Saturday. Sources familiar with the talks revealed that US mediators have assured Hamas of a durable ceasefire, with a commitment for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in the third and final phase of the agreement.

Israel had previously issued a one-week ultimatum to Hamas to agree to a ceasefire, threatening military operations in Rafah if an agreement was not reached within the specified timeframe. While Israel has agreed to implement the first phase of the ceasefire, details of the agreement were not confirmed until Saturday.

The proposed ceasefire agreement is said to be structured in three phases. In the first phase, Hamas would release 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel would release several thousand Palestinian prisoners. Subsequent phases would involve the release of remaining hostages and the restoration of stability in Gaza. The final phase would see the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the region.

However, Israel has indicated that it will continue its operations in Rafah regardless of the ceasefire agreement, aiming to eliminate Hamas. This stance has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations, warning of the potential humanitarian crisis for the residents of Rafah.

Despite these challenges, there are indications of progress in the negotiations. Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan has acknowledged "some progress," while reports suggest that talks are at a critical stage, with a Qatari 'technical team' working on the operational aspects of the agreement.

As negotiations continue, Egypt's role in facilitating the ceasefire talks remains crucial. The focus is now on finalizing the details of the agreement and ensuring its implementation to bring an end to the violence that has plagued the region for weeks.