President Biden will speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu via phone on Thursday following Hamas’ response to a hostage and cease-fire deal, Fox News Digital can confirm.

Israel said Wednesday it is examining Hamas’ offer of returning the remaining 116 hostages who were captured by the terrorist group during the Oct. 7 attacks, which left nearly 1,200 people dead. 

Netanyahu is set to convene his security cabinet later today to formulate a reaction to Hamas’ latest position, which could prove to be a pivotal step in ending the nine-month-long Israeli air and ground war that has devastated Gaza. The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the war had climbed past 38,000, with at least 87,445 wounded.

NETANYAHU TRASHES NY TIMES REPORT CITING ANONYMOUS OFFICIALS WHO SAY ISRAELI MILITARY WANTS CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA

The U.S. has rallied world support behind a plan that would see the hostages still held by the militant group released in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, until now, neither side appears to have fully embraced it. 

The current deal is reported to be based on a resolution outlined by President Biden in May, which would begin with an initial six-week cease-fire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to all areas in the territory.

Phase two would see “a permanent end to hostilities, in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.” 

Phase three would launch “a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in Gaza to their families.”

GAZA MILITANTS FIRE ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL AS TANK ADVANCES INTENSIFY IN NORTH AND SOUTH

An Israeli firefighter walks near smoke and fire following over-border rockets launching into Israel from Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in northern Israel on June 12, 2024. (REUTERS/Gil Eliyahu)

Hamas suggested “amendments” to the proposal last month, some of which the U.S. said were unworkable, without providing specifics. The group sent another response Wednesday to Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks, without providing details. A U.S. official said the Biden administration was examining the response, calling it constructive but saying more work needed to be done. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

Hamas political official Bassem Naim said that the group has neither accepted nor rejected the American proposal and has “responded with some ideas to bridge the gap” between the two sides, without elaborating.

However, the transition from the first to the second phase has appeared to be the main sticking point.

Hamas is concerned that Israel will restart the war after the first phase, perhaps after making unrealistic demands in the talks. Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hamas will do the same, drawing out the talks and the initial cease-fire indefinitely without releasing the remaining captives.

Israeli Channel 12, citing a senior Israeli official, reports that Hamas has withdrawn its demand for guarantees that Israel would end the war and withdraw entirely from Gaza in order for it to even agree to the first stage of the deal.

Additionally, the Hezbollah-linked newspaper Al-Akhbar reports that the Hamas plan involves Israel withdrawing troops from the Rafah Crossing area in agreement with Egypt but without having to fully withdraw from the key Philadelphi Corridor.

Israeli hostage families carry the photos of their loved ones who are held hostage by Hamas in Gaza as they march to Jerusalem. (Matan Golan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Netanyahu has been skeptical of the deal, saying that Israel is still committed to destroying Hamas. 

“The war will end once Israel achieves all of its objectives, including the destruction of Hamas and the release of all of our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a video statement given in Hebrew earlier this week. Netanyahu was slamming a New York Times report quoting senior Israeli officials who claim some military brass want a cease-fire with Hamas. 

Over the past nine months, 109 hostages have been released, seven have been rescued by the Israel Defense Forces, and the bodies of 19 have been recovered by the military from Gaza, including three who were mistakenly killed by troops, The Times of Israel reports.

Fox News’ Yonat Friling and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Zaniar Matapour convicted on ‘terrorism’ and murder charges after attack that killed two people and wounded nine.

A court in Oslo has found an Iranian-born Norwegian man guilty of an attack during Pride celebrations in the Norwegian capital in 2022 and sentenced him to 30 years in prison.

Two people were killed and nine were seriously wounded in the centre of Oslo, on June 25, 2022, in the shootings at three locations, including the London Pub, a hub of the local LGBTQ scene.

The Oslo District Court said on Thursday that Zaniar Matapour, 45, fired 10 rounds with a machinegun and eight shots with a handgun into the crowd.

“The attack undoubtedly targeted gay people,” the court said in its verdict. “The goal was both to kill as many gay people as possible and to instill fear in LGBTQ people more broadly.”

Prosecutors said Matapour, who police said has a history of mental illness, had sworn allegiance to the ISIS (ISIL) group.

He stood trial on charges of committing an “aggravated act of terrorism” and murder. His 30-year sentence was the highest penalty in Norway since terrorism legislation was changed in 2015.

During the trial, both the prosecution and the defence agreed that Matapour had shot into a crowd and there was no disagreement that the shooting was “terror-motivated”.

His prison term could be extended indefinitely if he is deemed to continue to pose a threat to society, according to Norwegian media reports.

However, Matapour’s lawyer, Marius Dietrichson, had sought an acquittal, saying his client had been provoked to carry out the attack by a Danish intelligence agent who was pretending to be a high-ranking member of ISIL.

The shooting shocked Norway, which has a relatively low crime rate but has experienced so-called lone wolf attacks in recent decades.

“This is a big relief,” the head of the support group for survivors and victims’ relatives, Espen Evjenth, told public broadcaster NRK.

The verdict comes days after the annual Oslo Pride Parade, which paid tribute to the victims of the shooting. An estimated 70,000 revellers marched in this year’s event.