The possibility of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is becoming more likely, but there are concerns that Hamas is rearming in Gaza.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas is escalating, and the number of casualties is increasing as negotiations for a cease-fire reach a critical juncture.

On Sunday, four Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza, while five soldiers were killed and eight were injured in an ammunition explosion in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, in a recent operation. Meanwhile, Hamas has launched 20 rockets at Israel over the past two weeks, showcasing its capability to carry out attacks despite the ongoing conflict.

An agreement is reportedly close to being reached in negotiations between the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. The proposed deal would see the release of 33 hostages out of 98, including children, women, elderly men, and those with humanitarian cases, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile detainees. This phase of the negotiations is expected to last 42 days.

An Israeli official stated that most of the 33 hostages kidnapped by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, are still alive. Humanitarian aid will be delivered to the Gaza Strip during this time. In exchange for the release of female hostages, Israel will free 50 prisoners. For every hostage, 30 children and women will also be freed.

Allowing 1 million displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza could enable Hamas to regroup, warn security experts.

On Monday, retired IDF Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi informed the Wall Street Journal that Hamas is rebuilding itself at a faster rate than the IDF is eliminating them.

Avivi stated on Israeli radio that the deal must include all hostages, but there is only one Hamas requirement that cannot be accepted: "ending the war." He added that as long as "ending the war" is not included in the agreement, "hard concessions" can be made.

President Biden announced during his farewell foreign policy address at the State Department on Monday that the long-awaited proposal for peace in the Middle East was finally coming to fruition. He emphasized the need to free hostages, halt fighting, secure Israel, and ensure humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Palestinians and Israelis both deserve peace, and Biden pledged to work urgently to close the deal as they addressed the challenges.

Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser, highlighted the urgency in a statement, stating that the American national security interest requires a fast deal. He emphasized that the parties are close to hammering out the details and are on the cusp of closing the deal. However, the success of the deal is uncertain, and the hours and days ahead will determine whether it will be successful.

Biden and Netanyahu discussed the proposed cease-fire over the phone on Sunday, reflecting the high-level coordination between the U.S. and Israel. McGurk, the U.S. envoy, has been stationed in Qatar working nonstop to finalize the agreement.

Since the war began, the Israeli military has reported killing approximately 17,000 Hamas terrorists and detaining thousands more. Prior to the conflict, Hamas had a force of 30,000 terrorists organized into 24 battalions. Although the IDF claims to have dismantled much of this structure, Hamas, which still controls large parts of Gaza, has not disclosed its losses or new recruitment figures. The Hamas-run Ministry of Health claims that 46,000 Gazans have been killed so far in the war.

The cease-fire proposal has caused intense disagreement among Israel's government officials. While most coalition members, including Netanyahu, are in favor of the deal and see it as a vital step towards freeing the hostages, some members to the right of Netanyahu are strongly opposed to it, citing security concerns and fears that Hamas will use the cease-fire to rebuild.