Israel studying Gaza ceasefire proposal after Hamas accepts offer
Mediators are awaiting an official Israeli response to the plan after Hamas signalled its readiness for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending nearly two years of war.
Mediator Qatar expressed guarded optimism for the new proposal, noting that it was "almost identical" to an earlier version agreed to by Israel.
Multiple Israeli officials have told the Reuters and AFP news agencies that the Netanyahu government had not changed its stance that all hostages would need to be released in any deal.
The two foes have held on-and-off indirect negotiations throughout the war, resulting in two short truces during which Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but they have ultimately failed to broker a lasting ceasefire.
Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have mediated the frequent rounds of shuttle diplomacy.
Egypt said on Monday that it and Qatar had sent the new proposal to Israel, adding "the ball is now in its court".
On Tuesday, the White House said the US was also discussing the details of the proposed ceasefire.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday that Hamas had given a "very positive response, and it truly was almost identical to what the Israeli side had previously agreed to".
"We cannot make any claims that a breakthrough has been made. But we do believe it is a positive point," he added.
The war, which has been raging for 22 months, began when Hamas-led fighters stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, by Israeli tallies.
Israel's offensive has since killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants. The Israeli assault has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis and displaced most of its population.
According to a report in Egyptian state-linked outlet Al Qahera News, the latest deal proposes an initial 60-day truce, a partial hostage release, the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners and provisions allowing for the entry of aid.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly comment on the plan, but said last week that his country would accept "an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war".
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said on social media that his group had "opened the door wide to the possibility of reaching an agreement, but the question remains whether Netanyahu will once again close it, as he has done in the past".
Hamas's acceptance of the proposal came as Mr Netanyahu faced increasing pressure at home and abroad to end the war.
On Sunday, tens of thousands took to the streets in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to call for an end to the war and a deal to free the remaining hostages still held captive.
Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 2023 attack that triggered the war, 49 are still in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
The new proposal also came after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to conquer Gaza City, fanning fears the new offensive would worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the devastated territory.
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir — who has staunchly opposed ending the war — slammed the plan, warning of a "tragedy" if Netanyahu "gives in to Hamas".
On Tuesday, local time, Mr Netanyahu issued a letter accusing Emmanuel Macron of fuelling antisemitism, after the French president announced the country would recognise Palestinian statehood at an upcoming United Nations meeting.
In response, French Minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad said France had "no lessons to learn in the fight against antisemitism".
"I would like to say very clearly and very firmly that this issue of antisemitism, which is poisoning our European societies … cannot be exploited," he told French broadcaster BFMTV.
Mr Netanyahu's letter to Mr Macron came hours after the Israeli prime minister posted on X that Anthony Albanese had "betrayed" Israel.
AFP/Reuters
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