Mediators are awaiting an Israeli response to a fresh Gaza ceasefire plan, a day after the Hamas terror group accepted the proposal and signalled its readiness for a new round of talks.
The two sides have held on-and-off indirect negotiations throughout Israel’s operation against the group, resulting in two short truces and the releases of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but they have ultimately failed to secure a lasting ceasefire.
The efforts have been mediated by Egypt and Qatar, backed by the United States.
Egypt said on Monday that it and Qatar had sent the new proposal to Israel, claiming “the ball is now in its court.”
According to a report in Egyptian state-linked outlet Al-Qahera, 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 Israel would accept “an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war.”
Out of the 251 hostages captured during Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 reported dead by the Israeli military.
