Israel makes new Gaza ceasefire proposal but prospects appear slim
In the proposal, Israel demands the disarmament of Hamas for the first time in the next phase of negotiations and requests the return of the remaining hostages in Gaza. Hamas, for its part, said in a statement that it was studying the proposal and would send its response as soon as possible.
Egypt has received a new proposal from Israel to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and begin negotiations toward a definitive cessation of hostilities, the state-run Al-Qahera News reported. The Egyptian government, which acts as a key mediator in the conflict, has already conveyed the offer to Hamas and is awaiting a response from the Palestinian group, which it has assured will be "as soon as possible."
A senior Hamas official has stated that the Israeli proposal "does not contemplate a complete end to hostilities" and only demands the return of the hostages. In response, the same spokesperson stated that the Islamist group would be willing to release all the hostages "at once" if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw its forces from Gaza.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the proposal did not satisfy the Palestinian group's demand that Israel commit to a complete halt to hostilities. He also said that "in the proposal, Israel also called for the first time for Hamas's disarmament in the next phase of negotiations, something the group will not accept," he concluded.
"Handing over the resistance's weapons is an insurmountable red line and is not something that can be considered, let alone discussed," Abu Zuhri said.
The Israeli proposal, according to sources cited by The Times of Israel and Arab media, calls for a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of between nine and ten live hostages, including Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexa. Israel has softened its original demand for 11 hostages, according to Israeli media reports.
For now, the Islamist militant group is holding 59 hostages, of whom only 24 are believed to be still alive. Although Egypt and the United States are pushing for an agreement, negotiations remain stalled due to Israel's refusal to accept a permanent ceasefire while Hamas retains military power in Gaza.
Relatives of hostages call on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their release
In this regard, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the family of hostage Eitan Mor last weekend that his government was working on an agreement. However, families grouped under the Israeli Missing Families and Hostages Forum have demanded a comprehensive solution that frees all hostages without "selektzia," a Holocaust-era term that condemns the distinction between lives.
"We want a comprehensive agreement now. Every day puts captives at greater risk," they said in a statement.
Eitan Mor, 23, was kidnapped while working as a security guard at the Nova festival. His father, Tzvika Mor, is a co-founder of the Tikva Forum, an offshoot of the Missing Families and Hostages Forum, the main group for families of captives. However, both he and his wife have also called on Netanyahu to return all the hostages.
Hamas is likely to respond within 48 hours to Israel's truce proposal
The head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) told Al-Qahera News: "Hamas knows very well the value of time now, and I believe its response to the Israeli proposal will be swift."
Hamas will "most likely" respond within "48 hours" to the Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a senior Hamas official told AFP on Tuesday.
"Hamas will most likely send its response to the mediators within 48 hours" because "the movement is conducting in-depth consultations," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. After nearly two months of truce, the Israeli army resumed its offensive in the Palestinian enclave in mid-March, although contacts through mediators continue to halt hostilities once again.
Another Hamas source told AFP that Israel is demanding the safe return of 10 hostages in exchange for a truce of "at least 45 days," the release of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners, and authorization to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The war in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023, with an unprecedented attack by Hamas and its allies against southern Israel, prompting a massive Israeli offensive against the enclave.