Israel proposes 60-day Gaza ceasefire in exchange for half of living hostages: report

Israel has reportedly proposed a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of half of the remaining living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, according to a report Sunday by Israeli public broadcaster KAN.

Citing unnamed Israeli officials familiar with the negotiations, the report said the proposal was presented Saturday during talks in Doha, where Qatari mediators have been facilitating indirect discussions between the two sides.

Israel believes 58 hostages remain in Gaza, with approximately 20 still alive. The new proposal reportedly offers a truce to secure the release of around 10 of them, alongside negotiations during the ceasefire period on broader issues related to the war's future.

Key elements of the proposal include:

• The release of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences and approximately 1,000 inmates with shorter terms, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
• Negotiations over disarming Palestinian resistance factions and the expulsion of their leaders, two conditions Israel has insisted on throughout the conflict.
• Israel’s continued control over the Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors in Gaza, while remaining open to discussing an end to hostilities during the ceasefire.
   

Hamas, however, has repeatedly rejected disarmament, asserting that it will not relinquish armed resistance while Israeli occupation and aggression persist.

As of Monday, neither Hamas nor Qatari mediators have publicly responded to the reported Israeli proposal.

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