Hamas has declined to respond to Israel’s counter-proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, stating it remains committed to the ceasefire plan proposed by mediators, a senior official told Reuters on Wednesday.
Israel submitted its counter-proposal on March 29 in coordination with the United States after Hamas had agreed to a plan put forward by Egypt and Qatar.
A copy of the mediators’ proposal, obtained by Reuters, revealed it was built upon the framework of the January 17 ceasefire agreement and would extend the ceasefire by 50 days. According to the document, negotiations for a second phase of the truce must be finalized before this 50-day period concludes.
The proposal also outlined the release of 21-year-old Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a New Jersey native, on the first day of the ceasefire. Hamas would then release four more Israeli hostages at a pace of one hostage every 10 days, in exchange for Israel releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners and an additional 2,000 individuals detained after Hamas’s October 7 attack.
Furthermore, the plan called for an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza, reopening border crossings for humanitarian aid, and re-establishing vehicle passage through the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects the enclave.
Despite ongoing ceasefire discussions, Israel has expanded its military operations in Gaza. On March 19, Israeli forces resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza. On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced a large-scale expansion of security zones within the enclave, along with mass evacuations of Palestinian residents.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, resulted in a temporary halt to hostilities, the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel has since escalated its military campaign, citing security concerns.
Phase two of the three-phase ceasefire deal is intended to secure the release of all remaining hostages and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Hamas insists that any agreement must ensure the initiation of the second phase, whereas Israel has instead proposed an extension of the initial 42-day period.
According to Palestinian health officials, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas’s October 7 attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza.
