This comes in parallel with sensitive consultations being held by the security cabinet on Thursday evening regarding the issue.
The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday that the proposal, which was updated with US mediation, includes the release of half of the living Israeli prisoners (10 out of 20), in addition to the bodies of 18 other prisoners, in five stages during a 60-day truce period, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners whose number has not yet been determined.
According to Channel 12, the proposal calls for the release of eight Israeli prisoners on the first day of the truce, two more on the fiftieth day, and the return of the bodies in three separate phases. Meanwhile, indirect negotiations continue, potentially resuming in Doha or Cairo if Hamas accepts the initiative.
The offer also stipulates an "American guarantee" to maintain the ceasefire if a final agreement cannot be reached during the truce period, provided negotiations remain serious. The newspaper quoted informed sources as saying that Hamas had initially responded positively to this point, believing it prevents a unilateral resumption of Israeli military operations.
While Hamas continues its internal consultations and consultations with other Palestinian factions, sources told Anadolu Agency that the movement is leaning toward accepting the proposal, but has not yet made a final decision. It is conducting extensive discussions before submitting its official response to the mediators.
Hamas announced on Wednesday that it had received new proposals from mediators and was studying them to ensure an end to the war, an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of aid to civilians.
Meanwhile, the Israeli scene is clearly divided. The official broadcasting authority announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a consultation session with the cabinet on Thursday evening to discuss the US initiative. This is part of a series of discussions that began this week, including military meetings at the Southern Command.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, reiterated his rejection of any settlement, calling the pursuit of an agreement a "grave mistake." He told Army Radio that Israel must seek to "completely occupy the Gaza Strip, halt humanitarian aid, and encourage immigration," calling on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to ally with him to thwart a potential agreement.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have previously rejected any truce with Hamas, calling for the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and the establishment of settlements. Meanwhile, other Israeli officials, such as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, have spoken of "positive indications" regarding the possibility of reaching a deal soon.
In separate statements, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed to a 60-day truce as part of the new proposal. He expressed hope that Hamas would accept it, stressing his readiness to announce the agreement himself if it were completed.
The proposal includes a clause related to the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which Hebrew media outlets expect will spark an internal dispute, given the Netanyahu government's adherence to its stated demands, most notably the disarmament of Hamas, the exile of its leaders, and the prevention of any role for Hamas in any future civilian administration of Gaza.
Controversy also continues over the mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid. While Israel insists on maintaining the current mechanism, run by an American company, Hamas is demanding a return to the previous UN model, which allowed between 400 and 600 trucks to enter Gaza daily. Data from the Ministry of Health in Gaza indicates that 640 civilians have been killed and 4,488 injured as a result of attacks on aid distribution centers since the new mechanism began operating on May 27.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged a war on the Gaza Strip that UN and human rights organizations have described as genocide. The war has resulted in more than 192,000 deaths and injuries, most of them women and children, in addition to more than 11,000 missing persons and hundreds of thousands displaced. This war is taking place amid a stifling famine and a complete blockade, despite orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
