DUBAI, December 23. /TASS/. Israel and Hamas are trying to agree a truce but cannot reach accord on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, or a narrow strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, and details of the prisoner release deal, the UAE-based The National newspaper said, citing sources.

According to the newspaper, Israel is unwilling to release 70 out of 200 Palestinians who are serving long terms in Israeli prisons. In all, Hamas wants Israel to release some 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel, in turn, expects Hamas to release some 100 hostages, including female soldiers and American nationals, during the potential 60-day ceasefire.

Hamas wants to strike a "comprehensive deal" with Israel, which would envisage the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and a ceasefire regime. Israel refuses to withdraw troops from so-called Philadelphi Corridor on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, the newspaper noted.

The Israeli news portal Ynet reported last week, citing a high-ranking official, that most of the details of the potential deal had been agreed, with the major stumbling block being the number of hostages who are to be released during its first phase. According to the official, talks are now focused on the number of hostages and their identities.

Several rounds of hostage release talks this year have yielded no result so far. The sides failed to extend the November 2023 agreement on the release of 105 hostages during a week-long ceasefire. According to the Israeli side, 96 out of 251 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023 are still held in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has saved eight hostages and recovered the bodies of 38 people in the past 14 months.