Post by : Meena Ariff

A senior Israeli official said yesterday that Israel remains firm in its demand that all hostages must be released in any future ceasefire deal with Hamas, after the Palestinian group agreed to a new truce proposal.

Mediators are waiting for an official response from Israel following Hamas’s announcement that it is ready for another round of talks to end almost two years of ongoing conflict. Qatar, one of the mediators, expressed cautious optimism, stating that the latest proposal is almost the same as an earlier plan that Israel had previously agreed to.

Speaking anonymously, the Israeli official emphasized that the government’s position has not changed. Israel insists that any ceasefire must include the release of all hostages.

Throughout the war, Israel and Hamas have held intermittent indirect negotiations. These talks led to two short-term truces in which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. However, these agreements were temporary and failed to result in a long-lasting ceasefire.

Qatar and Egypt, with support from the United States, have been mediating these negotiations. On Monday, Egypt announced that it and Qatar had sent the new ceasefire proposal to Israel, saying, “The ball is now in Israel’s court.”

A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that Hamas responded positively to the plan, which was nearly identical to an earlier version Israel had agreed to. While he warned that no breakthrough had yet been reached, he called the response a positive sign for future talks.

Details of the Proposal

According to reports, the latest ceasefire proposal suggests an initial 60-day truce. It also includes provisions for partial hostage releases, freeing some Palestinian prisoners, and allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the plan yet. Last week, he stated that Israel would agree only to a deal where all hostages are released at once under Israel’s conditions for ending the war.

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said that his group has “opened the door wide” for an agreement but questioned whether Netanyahu would respond positively, noting that past negotiations had ended without agreement.

The proposal comes at a time when Netanyahu is facing growing pressure from both domestic and international sources. On Sunday, tens of thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv, demanding an end to the war and the release of hostages still held in Gaza.

Of the 251 hostages captured by Hamas during their attack on Israel in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza. Among these, the Israeli military reports that 27 are deceased.

Despite the ceasefire talks, Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to advance into Gaza City, raising fears of further worsening the humanitarian crisis. On Tuesday, the new offensive plan was presented to the defense minister by Israel’s military leaders.

Some Israeli officials, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have criticized the proposal, warning of a “tragedy” if Netanyahu gives in to Hamas. On the other hand, Hamas officials accuse Israel of seeking to continue the war and commit acts of ethnic cleansing.

Rising Violence in Gaza

Meanwhile, in Gaza, ongoing Israeli strikes and shelling killed 48 people on Tuesday, according to the civil defense agency. Spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the situation in Gaza City’s Zeitoun and Sabra neighborhoods is “very dangerous and unbearable” as artillery continues intermittently.

The Israeli military stated it is focused on dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities while taking precautions to reduce civilian casualties. Overnight, a strike in Khan Yunis targeted a Hamas militant.

Due to media restrictions and difficulties accessing Gaza, independent verification of casualty numbers and strike details is challenging. In northern Gaza’s Zikim area, journalists reported seeing Palestinians carrying sacks of food aid through streets filled with rubble and damaged buildings. One resident described the bags of flour as “white gold,” vital for survival.

Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023 led to the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians. In contrast, Israel’s ongoing offensive has resulted in at least 62,064 Palestinian deaths, the majority being civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which the UN considers a reliable source.