Hamas reacts "positively" to new ceasefire proposal

The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas - in which the USA, Egypt and Qatar are mediating - came to a standstill again at the end of July. According to Israeli and American accounts, Hamas had derailed the negotiations with excessive demands. The US and Israeli delegations were then called back to their respective capitals for consultations. Since then, there has been no progress.

Apparently updated form of Witkoff proposal

A proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff for a 60-day ceasefire was most recently on the negotiating table. According to Israeli media reports, the latest proposal by the Egyptian and Qatari mediators is an updated version. According to the proposal, ten live hostages and the bodies of 18 abductees are to be released during the 60-day period in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

There are still 50 hostages in the Gaza Strip, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas terrorists and other Islamists abducted more than 250 people from Israel to Gaza during their terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Around 1,200 people were killed.

Just over a week ago, Israel's security cabinet decided to expand the war in Gaza. The plan envisages the capture of the city of Gaza and central refugee camps to crush Hamas. The media speculated that the announcement could be a negotiating tactic to put Hamas under massive pressure to return to the negotiating table and show more flexibility. Since then, efforts have been underway in the background to achieve a ceasefire in the almost two-year Gaza war.

Netanyahu: Hamas is under enormous pressure

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message that he had heard the media reports about a "positive response" from Hamas. One could only gain an impression from them: Hamas is under enormous pressure.

In recent days, Israeli media had reported that the head of government was only prepared to reach an agreement if it included the release of all remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip and an end to the war on Israel's terms.

However, there is concern among his far-right coalition partners that Netanyahu could possibly also agree to a so-called partial agreement, i.e. a temporary ceasefire during which only some of the hostages are released. Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich strictly reject this and are instead calling for massive military pressure on Hamas to bring them to a comprehensive agreement. Netanyahu did not address this in his video message.