GAZA: In what appeared to be the most serious peace initiative for months, Hamas has received and was studying a new proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza.
The proposal has been presented by mediators after talks with Israel. According to a senior Hamas official, the proposal involved a three-stage truce, during which the Hamas would first release remaining civilians among hostages it captured on October 7, then soldiers, and finally the bodies of hostages that were killed during the war.
The official, who wished not to be named, did not indicate how long the stages would last or what was envisioned to follow the final stage.
But it was the first time since the collapse of the war’s only brief truce so far in late November that details of a new proposal being considered by both sides have been released.
The ceasefire proposal followed talks in Paris involving intelligence chiefs from the United States, Israel and Egypt, with the Qatari prime minister. In a sign of the seriousness of the talks, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said he was going to Cairo to discuss it, his first public trip in more than a month.
Hamas says it will release its remaining prisoners only as part of a broader deal to end the war permanently. Hamas head Haniyeh said he was studying the ceasefire proposal. Hamas’ priority was to end the Israeli offensive and ensure a full withdrawal, he said.
