A senior Israeli official confirmed on Tuesday that Israel remains steadfast in its demand for the release of all hostages as part of any future Gaza ceasefire deal, even after Hamas signaled its acceptance of a new truce proposal. Mediators are awaiting Israel’s official response, while Qatar expressed cautious optimism, describing the new draft as “almost identical” to one Israel had previously approved.
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Hamas’s agreement has renewed momentum for negotiations after nearly two years of conflict. Talks, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. backing, have so far produced only temporary truces that allowed limited hostage-prisoner exchanges. While both sides have repeatedly engaged in indirect talks, no lasting ceasefire has been achieved.
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Egypt and Qatar jointly submitted the latest plan to Israel, which includes a proposed 60-day truce, partial hostage release, the freeing of Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid. Qatari spokesperson Majed al-Ansari stressed Hamas’s “very positive response” but warned that it was too soon to declare a breakthrough.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to issue a formal statement, though he previously insisted that Israel would only accept an arrangement ensuring the release of all hostages simultaneously and under Israeli conditions. Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi suggested that the outcome now depends entirely on Netanyahu’s decision.
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The political stakes are rising in Israel, where mass protests have called for an immediate end to the war and the safe return of hostages. Out of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 confirmed dead by Israeli authorities. The cabinet’s recent approval of an offensive to capture Gaza City has added further strain to the already dire humanitarian situation.
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Far-right Israeli ministers, including Itamar Ben Gvir, strongly oppose any concessions, warning against what they see as dangerous compromises. Hamas leaders, in turn, accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political motives, describing Israeli actions as “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” According to UN-verified figures, Israel’s military campaign has resulted in more than 62,000 Palestinian deaths, most of them civilians, while Hamas’s October 2023 assault killed 1,219 people in Israel. Despite the ongoing negotiations, the conflict shows little sign of resolution, and the region remains on the edge of further escalation.
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