The latest response from Hamas in the talks for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza will be submitted to the Israeli War Cabinet and Security Cabinet on Friday, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said.
In response to the latest proposal, the office said that “Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands.”
CNN has previously reported that the first phase of a deal had been expected to include a six-week humanitarian pause, the release of around 40 Israeli hostages, and a large number of Palestinian prisoners. The hostages would be the remaining Israel women – including IDF soldiers, the elderly, sick and wounded.
Sticking points: Hamas had refused to send Israel a list of all the hostages believed to be alive or dead. Hamas has been asking for a large number of Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged, additional aid into the strip, and the IDF to withdraw from Gaza in a second phase.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari told CNN’s Becky Anderson this week that the two sides are “engaged in constructive dialogue between both sides, the situation on the ground is very much difficult, and we are nowhere near a deal at the moment.”
