Hamas, the Palestinian group controlling the Gaza Strip, has rejected an Israeli proposal for a two-month ceasefire in the region, saying no captive exchanges until Israel ends its military operations in the besieged Palestinian territory.
The proposal, which included the release of Israeli captives held by resistance factions in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel, was declined by Hamas.
According to reports, the deal would have also allowed senior Hamas leaders in Gaza to leave the Strip. However, Hamas officials stated that they refuse to release more Israeli prisoners of war until Israel ceases its ongoing military operations in the besieged territory and withdraws its forces.
Efforts to mediate talks between Hamas and Israel by Egypt and Qatar are underway. They are working on developing a multi-stage proposal to bridge the gaps between the two sides. However, Israel is reportedly unwilling to discuss offers that include a commitment to halting its military actions in Gaza, a demand made by Hamas.
Israeli media outlet Channel 13 has reported that Israel may propose an alternative deal, which would involve multiple stages of implementation. This proposal would include the exchange of prisoners in each stage, including those with high sentences among Palestinian prisoners, along with ceasefire agreements for extended periods.
There have also been reports that Hamas has asked for a package for a temporary ceasefire to be turned into a permanent one. Hamas also insisted that a future plan for Gaza's administration should be part of the deal. On the other hand, Israel's spokesperson Ivon Levy said that no dispensation in which Hamas continues to play a role is acceptable to Israel, a stance that the US also supports. In response to this, Hamas holds that the US position cannot be accepted, and the kind of rule in Gaza should be decided by Palestinians themselves. This recalls the fact that Hamas was elected by Palestinians to rule Gaza.
However, there would be no commitment from Israel to end its military campaign in the Gaza Strip.