According to an Israeli official, Israel is demanding the return of all 50 captives held in Gaza, raising questions about whether it will accept a fresh truce agreement of 60 days that Hamas agreed to on Monday. According to Qatar, the plan, which was proposed by Egypt and Qatar, would free around half of the captives and is “almost identical” to a US proposal that Israel had previously approved.
Although Israel has not stated that it rejects it outright, David Mencer, a spokesman for the Israeli government, told the BBC that “partial deals” do not appeal to Israel. Now, things are different. “The prime minister has outlined a strategy for Gaza’s future,” Mencer stated.
According to Palestinian sources, the plan calls for the release of 10 alive and 18 dead prisoners while the parties negotiate a long-term truce and the repatriation of the remaining hostages.
After 22 months of fighting, Israel estimates that only 20 of the 50 hostages remain alive. The military’s plan to seize Gaza City, where thousands have already fled due to escalating Israeli assaults, is set to be approved by the Israeli cabinet later this week.
Following the failure of indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hamas last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel’s plan to seize control of Gaza, including the regions where the majority of its 2.1 million Palestinian citizens have sought safety.
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