Senior Israeli official denies reports that Israel has agreed to framework proposed by Hamas under which five living hostages and five dead captives will be returned to Israel during 70-day ceasefire.
By World Israel News Staff
A senior Israeli official on Monday denied reports that Israel has accepted in principle an offer put forward by Hamas for a 70-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, multiple media outlets have reported.
The Lebanese Al-Mayadeen television channel, which is affiliated with the Hezbollah terror group, claimed that Israel has agreed to conduct negotiations on the basis of a proposal floated by Hamas under which ten hostages will be returned to Israel during a 70-day ceasefire, in exchange for the release of jailed Arab terrorists.
According to the report, 5 of the 10 hostages will be from the remaining 20 who are alive, while the remains of 5 dead hostages will also be returned.
In addition to freeing jailed Arab terrorists, the Hamas plan would also require Israel to retreat from much of the Gaza Strip, ceding all positions taken by the IDF since the resumption of hostilities in mid-March.
Hamas has also reportedly demanded American recognition as a condition for the deal.
The offer alters the so-called “Witkoff outline,” drafted by White House special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff’s proposal called for a 50-60 day ceasefire in exchange for roughly 10 living hostages.
“There is no genuine willingness on Hamas’s part to move forward with a deal. Israel remains committed to the Witkoff framework,” a senior Israeli official said, denying the Al-Mayadeen report claiming Israel had agreed to the proposal in principle.
The official claimed that the proposal was conveyed to Israel by Bashara Bahbah, an Arab-American businessman who has reportedly established a line of communication between the Trump administration and Hamas.
An Israeli official cited by The Jerusalem Post said the Hamas plan was “very far away from the outline that we are willing to negotiation on.”
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