The parties in negotiations have been in dispute regarding the release of hostages alongside IDF withdrawal - Hamas demanded linking the stages of hostage release to stages of complete IDF withdrawal, while Israel demanded withdrawal to the agreed line only after the last hostage is released. Sources familiar with the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh claim that the parties are approaching an agreement on beginning hostage releases while IDF forces are still in Gaza, with the full withdrawal occurring after all hostages are released. Thus, withdrawal would not be a condition for starting hostage releases, but would also not occur only at the end of the major deal, rather at the end of phase one.