Gaza: Hamas Approves a Truce, Israel Submits a Counterproposal

A senior Hamas official announced on Saturday, March 29, that the Palestinian Islamist movement had approved a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza, put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. “We (…) have approved it and hope that Israel will not obstruct it,” said Khalil al-Haya in a televised address marking Eid al-Fitr. He also warned that “the weapons of the resistance are a red line.”

Israel, for its part, responded by submitting a counterproposal. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a series of consultations before transmitting a response to the mediators, in full coordination with the United States,” his office stated, without disclosing further details.

Intensified Negotiations and Israeli Threats

Talks between Hamas and mediators are accelerating as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza. A previous truce, which had brought several weeks of relative calm, ended on March 18 when Israel resumed airstrikes on the territory.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister threatened to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas did not release the hostages. In response, the Islamist movement warned that these captives would return “in coffins” if the bombings continued.

A New Hostage Video Released

Amid these rising tensions, Hamas’ armed wing released a new video on Saturday featuring an Israeli hostage, Elkana Bohbot, who was abducted during the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. In the footage, he calls on his government to ensure his release. This recording, the second in less than a week, comes as indirect negotiations—led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—struggle to make progress.

Discussions have remained stalled since the first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 1. That truce, which began on January 19, led to the release of 33 Israeli hostages—eight of whom were deceased—in exchange for 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. According to the Israeli military, of the 251 hostages abducted on October 7, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 who are presumed dead.