File Photo: Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. AP
An unnamed Arab diplomat told the paper that Dermer reiterated Israel’s position that it seeks only a “comprehensive deal” under which Hamas would release all hostages and accept Israel’s conditions for surrender.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that authorities have decided to temporarily “avoid responding at all” to the phased release proposal approved by Hamas on Monday. No security cabinet meeting has yet been scheduled to discuss the plan, The Times of Israel noted.
The proposal, drafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff, is said to be “nearly identical” to an initiative approved by Israel last month. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly instructed the Israeli military to accelerate preparations for an assault on Gaza City.
In a parallel development, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged Washington to press Israel to accept the ceasefire agreement.
Abdelatty spoke with US envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, stressing that Hamas’ approval of the proposal should be seized as an opportunity to end Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the two officials reviewed the latest regional developments, particularly the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Strip.
Abdelatty underlined that with Hamas agreeing to a 60-day truce, the priority must now be to end the war, safeguard civilian lives, and reach a just settlement of the Palestinian question. He said Israel must accept and implement the deal to protect hostages, ease Palestinian suffering, and secure the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which he said is facing a deliberate starvation policy.
The plan, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, calls for a two-month ceasefire, a phased release of hostages, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Under the terms, Hamas would release 10 Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would reposition closer to Gaza’s borders to facilitate the entry of aid. Immediate negotiations would begin on a broader deal covering Gaza’s postwar arrangements and the possibility of a permanent truce.
Hamas described the initiative as the “best available option” to shield civilians from further escalation and pave the way for a comprehensive settlement.
Since October 2023, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have led mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians and injured over 153,000 others, mostly women and children.
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