Hamas fighters said they had agreed to a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza put forward by mediators from Egypt and Qatar, while Israel announced a counter-proposal prepared “in full coordination” with a third mediator, the United States.
Earlier this week, Egypt offered to restore a broken truce after Israel suddenly resumed fighting.
At the time, it was unclear whether the proposal itself had changed until Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas in Gaza, confirmed its acceptance.
An Egyptian official told The Associated Press earlier this week about the proposal, saying Hamas would agree to release five live hostages, including an American-Israeli, in exchange for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into the territory and a weeklong pause in fighting.
Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The official spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to share information about the confidential negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Saturday did not provide details about the counteroffer, which it said came after consultations held by the prime minister on Friday.
Israel suspended a truce with Hamas a week and a half ago in a surprise attack that killed hundreds. The White House blamed Hamas for the renewed fighting.
Israel has vowed to continue military action until Hamas releases the 59 hostages it still holds, 24 of whom are expected to be alive.
Israel also demands that Hamas relinquish power, disarm and send its leaders into exile.
On Saturday, Israel expanded ground operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, near the border with Egypt.
Hamas said it would release the remaining hostages only in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Frustrated by the threat to the remaining hostages in Gaza, families and others gathered again on Saturday night, calling for a deal that would allow everyone to return home.
“The price of your war is the lives of hostages,” some protesters in Tel Aviv chanted, and there were minor clashes with police.
“War will not bring our hostages home, it will kill them,” Naama Weinberg, the cousin of deceased hostage Itai Svirsky, said at a weekly family meeting in Tel Aviv.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
