Gaza - Arab Canada News

Israeli officials announced today, Monday, that Tel Aviv has proposed a new initiative for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which includes a temporary truce lasting between 40 and 50 days, in exchange for the release of about half of the remaining Israeli captives held by Hamas, in a move that could pave the way for a comprehensive agreement to end the war that has been ongoing since October 2023.

According to officials, who spoke to media outlets on the condition of anonymity, the proposal includes the release of 24 captives believed to be alive, in addition to the remains of about 17 others who are believed to have died, as part of an initial phase lasting around a month and a half.

Netanyahu: We continue to apply pressure and negotiate

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his government will continue military pressure on Hamas alongside the negotiation track, considering that "continuous pressure is the best way to ensure the return of the captives."

Netanyahu added that his government is prepared to consider the departure of Hamas leaders from the Gaza Strip as part of a broader settlement that also includes a proposal made by U.S. President Donald Trump to open the door for "voluntary immigration" for Palestinians from the strip, a proposal that has elicited mixed reactions.

Hamas: Resistance weapons are a red line

For its part, Hamas reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement signed on January 19, as well as the recent proposal made by mediators last week, affirming that it has already agreed to it.

Bassem Naeem, a member of the movement's political bureau, stated that "resistance and its weapons are an existential issue that cannot be negotiated," indicating that Israel is seeking to disrupt the ceasefire process and continue the war and collective starvation against the residents of Gaza.

The head of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, who is also the head of the movement's delegation in ceasefire negotiations, confirmed that the movement has shown flexibility and responded positively to the recent proposals put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediation.

Intensive international efforts coinciding with Eid al-Fitr and Passover

According to informed sources, Egyptian and Qatari delegations were continuing their consultations with the involved parties to reach a temporary truce and a prisoner exchange agreement before Eid al-Fitr for Muslims and the Jewish Passover, noting partial progress on some contentious points, amid U.S. support for ceasefire efforts.

The issue of disarming Hamas remains one of the major obstacles, as the movement firmly rejects this, while Israel considers it a prerequisite for any permanent agreement.