Gaza: A 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others, Israeli media reported on Thursday. "The releases will be implemented in five phases during a 60-day ceasefire," the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth revealed, citing unnamed sources.
According to Anadolu Agency, the proposal includes stronger American assurances that if an agreement to end the war is not reached within 60 days, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations are serious and ongoing. Sources close to the talks indicated that Hamas has responded positively to this condition, viewing it as a safeguard against a unilateral Israeli resumption of its assault.
The proposal further outlines a clause for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. This aspect is expected to spark debate in Israel, which continues to demand Hamas disarmament, leadership exile, and exclusion from any future governance in the enclave. Indirect negotiations are anticipated to begin within days in Qatar or Egypt if Hamas accepts the proposal.
US President Donald Trump is positioned as the guarantor of the deal and is expected to personally announce the agreement if finalized. Upon approval, an Israeli delegation would promptly travel to Doha for intensive negotiations to finalize remaining details.
According to Israeli Channel 12, Hamas is set to issue its official response to the proposal on Friday. The broadcaster noted that the US administration aims for tangible progress, or at least a breakthrough announcement, during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit to Washington.
Negotiations will also address the release of Palestinian prisoners, with Hamas expected to demand high-profile names, including some previously rejected by Israel. Additionally, a separate dispute persists over the humanitarian aid mechanism. Israel wishes to maintain the current delivery system managed by a US firm, while Hamas advocates for a return to the previous UN-administered model, which allowed for 400-600 aid trucks daily.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 640 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 4,500 others injured since the Israel-drafted aid mechanisms came into effect on May 27. On Wednesday, Hamas confirmed its review of proposals submitted by mediators aimed at reaching a deal that includes a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and humanitarian relief for Palestinians.
The Palestinian group has consistently expressed its readiness to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for an end to Israel's military campaign and a complete withdrawal from Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted a comprehensive deal, favoring limited arrangements that allow the war to continue, a stance widely interpreted as an effort to preserve his political survival.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued its war on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, since October 2023. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.