Officials announced on Friday that Israel has officially received from Hamas its response to the U.S.-brokered hostage and ceasefire proposal made via Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with officials noting it is currently being reviewed by Israeli security cabinet and key decision-makers for review (ft.com/reuters.com/8/7 and i24news/tv/8/7).
Hamas Submits Proposal in “Positive Spirit, but With Reserves”
According to Reuters, Hamas described their submission as positive and indicated their willingness to enter proximity negotiations for implementation of its framework — though with certain reservations.
theguardian.com* or *reuters.com or *ft.com as they each offered coverage on this story
Official statements issued by Hamas detail that while they are willing to begin talks immediately, Hamas requires guarantees for access of humanitarian aid as well as clarity regarding Israeli military withdrawal timelines and uninterrupted passage at Rafah border crossing to Egypt (sources include JPost.com, Reuter’s.com and The Guardian for instance).
What Is in the Deal The proposal entails a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for a hostage-prisoner swap: approximately 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies of dead are to be exchanged for an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees held by Israel (around 18 bodies total).
This plan proposes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops, increased humanitarian aid deliveries under UN and Red Cross supervision and creation of a security mechanism to uphold the truce (Sources: Guardian.com; Reuter’s; Wikipedia and others).
Hamas demands assurances that these steps lay the groundwork for an indefinite cessation of hostilities rather than just temporary cessations, theguardian.com/8-7/87.58%8,FT.com/8-7 and Reuter’s 8.7/87.5
Senior Israeli officials are closely reviewing Hamas’ response. While government sources tell The Times of Israel they are “studying its contents,” concerns persist regarding potential discrepancies with Israeli objectives relating to disarmament assurances and scope of Israeli military presence post-ceasefire. timesofisrael.com gives more detail.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency Security Cabinet meeting today in order to assess Hamas’s response and formulate an action plan going forward. If satisfactory results emerge from these talks, Prime Minister Netanyahu may authorize indirect “proximity talks” in Doha or Cairo under mediation from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S.
Former President Donald Trump, a key backer of the initiative, expressed cautious optimism that an agreement may come together soon after Israel completed its review (nypost.com +3 theguardian.com +3 and times.co.uk each +3)
He plans on hosting Netanyahu in Washington early next week in order to continue their dialogue.
International leaders have widely welcomed Hamas’s tentative openness as a positive step toward alleviating humanitarian suffering in Gaza, where over 57,000 Palestinians have perished while hundreds of Israeli hostages hold onto hope of freedom. [Reuters.com and The Guardian have articles discussing this point].
Advocacy groups warn that ongoing airstrikes and aid restrictions continue to severely damage civilian life.
Should Israel approve this response, mediators will organize proximity talks to discuss specifics related to aid corridors, troop redeployments, and an exchange schedule that works for both sides. A final agreement would then need formal approval by both sides before becoming law.
If all parties remain committed, a deal could be executed within weeks, providing humanitarian relief while opening diplomatic channels aimed at creating lasting peace.