United States has reportedly proposed a deal to Hamas, offering a 60-day ceasefire with Israel in exchange for the release of 10 hostages, Sky News Arabia reported, citing sources. The proposal also includes resuming humanitarian aid to Gaza and discussing the positioning of Israeli forces along the Philadelphi Corridor.
It is not known when Washington extended the offer, but sources say Hamas is still weighing its response. “Hamas is still considering its response to the American proposal,” the source said.
Hamas Threatens Hostage Deaths
While talks are ongoing, Hamas warned that certain hostages would be put in danger of being killed if Israel resumes the military campaign. Israeli threats of war and siege would not cause the release of captives, said Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida, who stressed the organization’s adherence to the ceasefire and hostage deal.
59 Israeli hostages are still in Gaza after the first stage of the truce. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that a minimum of 35 of them have been killed.
Negotiations Face Setbacks
In a report by The Times of Israel, the US-Hamas talks, which were reportedly conducted in secret without Israeli representation, have run into difficulties following leaks to the media. It is said that talks mainly involved the exchange of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander for the bodies of four other American-Israelis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly reacted angrily to the move, which purportedly left Israel in the dark regarding such discussions. An official in Washington discredited speculation regarding major strides and whether discussions progressed to the next level.
Headlining Washington’s negotiations is Adam Boehler, a Trump administration former envoy. The talks, conducted in Doha, signal a change in the US’s policy of sidestepping direct negotiations with Hamas, which the US lists as a terror organization.
