Israel believes that around half of the 100 hostages still in captivity are dead. More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army. In the past, Hamas has insisted that Israel withdraw completely from Gaza as part of a phased release of hostages. However, Israel has rejected this proposal and demands the disarmament of Hamas before any truce.
A Western official present at the Doha talks mentioned that the United States, Israel, and Arab mediators view the Egyptian proposal with value. This could be an opportunity to demonstrate that Hamas is capable of fulfilling an agreement, despite the absence of its leader in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, expressed his willingness for a brief truce with Hamas in exchange for the release of a small group of hostages still in the group's hands.
Netanyahu's statements came after a meeting between his chief negotiator and senior officials from Qatar and the United States in Doha. This meeting aimed to revive stalled talks over a ceasefire following the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The discussions focused on a plan proposed by Egypt, which included a temporary cessation of hostilities and the release of four hostages.
The Egyptian proposal calls for a two-day truce and the release of four hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons, followed by negotiations for a total ceasefire and humanitarian aid. Talks and mediation efforts will continue to move towards an agreement. So far, Hamas has not issued comments on this; organizations such as the United States and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
If an agreement is reached, this would be the first truce between Israel and Hamas in about 11 months, since the exchange of several hostages for Palestinian prisoners in November 2023. Talks have been fruitless since then, leaving Gaza in a humanitarian crisis. The war began with an attack by Hamas militants on Israel last October, claiming the lives of around 1,200 people and kidnapping 250.
