Caution.
Don't hold your breath, but it looks like the fighting might stop between Hamas and Israel soon.
The militant group has accepted a ceasefire proposal by Egypt and Qatar.
The fly in the ointment is if Israel accepts the proposal. The government is reviewing the plan, but the prime minister's office has refused to comment at this stage.
It's not clear if the original framework for the deal (which Israel helped craft) but has not fully agreed to or if there's been modifications.
The original deal called for the release of between 20 and 33 hostages over several weeks in exchange for a temporary ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
CIA Director William Burns has been working with middle eastern leaders to accept the proposal which the United States considers a good plan.
Now it's up to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow the deal to go through. Despite worldwide pressure to stop the fighting Netanyahu's hard right coalition has resisted all efforts this far.
The announcement of a ceasefire deal came just hours after Israel ordered Palestinians living in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. to "Evacuate immediately."
So, what happened to open the door (however briefly) to a deal? It's not entirely clear.
For starters, it's not a deal until both sides agree to it. Israel has given every indication that the military would continue ongoing operations. The fact that they didn't come right out and accept the deal is telling.
Large parts of the Israeli public want a deal. They've been protesting the ongoing war for months. They're tired of the slaughter and just want peace.
Families and supporters of the hostages blocked the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv last week, holding a banner that reading "Rafah or the hostages - choose life."
The problem is the far-right Religious Zionism Party doesn't want a ceasefire. Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, said Netanyahu has "promised that Israel would enter Rafah," and assured them that the war would not end, and also pledged that there would be no "reckless deal."
Comments like that doesn't exactly bode well for an agreement.
Earlier this morning, President Biden spoke with Netanyahu for about 30 minutes before Hamas publicly said it had accepted a deal.
The question is how hard is Biden pushing for this ceasefire? There's been reports of withholding military assistance circulating around Washington for weeks.
Did Biden drop the hammer this morning?
If so, we'll find out soon enough when the Israeli government announces its position on this latest ceasefire proposal.
As it Stands, let's hope the ceasefire works out for the sake of thousands of innocent people.
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