Hamas is willing to release a greater number of hostages under a new truce proposal than it had previously agreed to, with the US reportedly telling the terror group it will pressure Israel into entering talks to end the war, the Saudi Al-Arabiya channel reported Sunday night.

Talks have reportedly been deadlocked over Israel’s demand that the terror group free 11 living hostages in exchange for an extended ceasefire while Hamas has offered to release five. According to reports over the weekend, in its latest proposal Israel has expressed readiness to lower the number of hostages released.

The Al-Arabiya report, citing unnamed sources, said that the drafting of the new deal is in its final stages and that Hamas has given an initial agreement to raise the number of hostages to be freed. The report did not specify the number of hostages that would potentially be released.

If a deal is reached under the proposed draft, hostages will be released in two stages alongside agreements on the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip, the report said.

The report also said that while the US has told Hamas it will pressure Israel into entering talks to end the fighting, discussions on whether leaders from the terror group will be permitted to stay in Gaza have been postponed to a later time.

The Saudi outlet also said that under the potential agreement, medical reports will be provided by the terrorists on the conditions of the remaining hostages.

Israel has been waiting for a response to its latest proposal for a ceasefire-hostage release deal after a delegation from the terror group arrived in Cairo over the weekend. The US is seeking to pressure the sides to move forward, according to reports in Israeli media outlets.

The Haaretz daily, citing Palestinian sources involved in the talks, reported Sunday night that Cairo and Doha are working with the US toward a potential additional........

© The Times of Israel