On the 18th, Hamas issued a statement saying that several Palestinian factions, including Hamas, have announced their agreement to the latest ceasefire proposal put forth by Egyptian and Qatari mediators in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
However, the statement did not mention specific details of the proposal.
According to separate reports from Egypt's Cairo News TV and Qatar's Al Jazeera TV on the 18th, citing sources familiar with the matter, the new proposal includes a roadmap toward a comprehensive ceasefire, with negotiations on a comprehensive agreement or permanent ceasefire starting from day one of the truce. During the 60-day ceasefire period, Hamas will release half—i.e., 10—of the living Israeli hostages, and will return half—i.e., 18—of the hostages' bodies, in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinian sources told Xinhua News Agency that Hamas is demanding that Israel release 140 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 60 serving sentences of over 15 years; for each Israeli hostage's body, 10 Palestinian bodies will be returned; and that Israel release all Palestinian women and children in custody.
The new proposal also includes that after the ceasefire agreement takes effect, Israel will immediately allow the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza, including fuel, water, and electricity, and permit repairs to Gaza’s hospitals and bakeries, as well as allow the provision of necessary equipment for rubble clearance. The United Nations and its agencies, as well as other international organizations working in Gaza, will be responsible for receiving and distributing the relevant aid.
Israel Receives Hamas’s Latest Ceasefire Proposal
An Israeli official confirmed to The Times of Israel on the evening of the 18th that Israel has received Hamas’s latest proposal regarding the Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages.
The Times of Israel also cited an Arab country diplomat as saying that compared to the demands Hamas made last month regarding the ceasefire plan, Hamas has reduced most of its demands.
Some Israeli officials have noted that Israel remains committed to reaching a "comprehensive" Gaza ceasefire agreement. However, Israel’s positions on the release of all hostages and the other conditions set for ending the war have not changed.