On Friday night, Hamas delivered its much-anticipated response to the ceasefire proposal negotiated by the U.S. and Israel. Its message, in short, was something of a yes. Crucially, Hamas agreed to release all remaining hostages, “with the provision of necessary field positions.” The language, though hazy, refers to a stipulation outlined in the proposal that requires Israel to carry out a “tactical withdrawal” for the hostages to be returned. By the terms, Israel would then free two hundred and fifty Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and more than a thousand other Palestinians who have been detained, some for allegedly taking part in Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Talks will begin in Egypt in the coming days to finalize the agreement, with both Israeli and Hama

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