People fleeing Rafah arrive in Khan Yunis city following new Israeli evacuation orders, in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 31, 2025. AFP
According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the proposal includes the return of half of the 24 captives believed to be alive in Gaza and around half of the 35 presumed dead, during a 40-to-50-day truce.
Hamas and Israel make counter-proposals
Israel resumed its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on 18 March, with bombardments killing hundreds of Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to health officials.
On Saturday, Hamas said it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar, but Israel responded with a counter-proposal, saying it was made in “full coordination” with the United States, the third mediator.
Earlier in the week, Egypt put forward a proposal to revive stalled ceasefire talks.
An Egyptian official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the plan involved Hamas releasing five living captives, including an American-Israeli citizen, in exchange for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and agreeing to a weeks-long pause. Israel would also release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later confirmed it had submitted a counterproposal but provided no details.
Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israel would step up military pressure on Hamas, insisting that this approach was proving effective, while negotiations would continue “under fire.”
Hamas has maintained that it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
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