Israel casts doubt on Gaza deal with demand to release all hostages

Ceasefire proposal agreed to by Hamas is 'almost identical' to Witkoff plan, Qatar says

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in Khan Younis, Gaza. AP

Israel is demanding the release of all 50 hostages held in Gaza in ceasefire talks with Hamas, dampening hopes of a last-ditch truce to halt the expansion of the war.

Qatar on Tuesday urged Israel to accept a 60-day truce to avert a "humanitarian catastrophe" in the strip. Hamas has signalled it could accept a deal that would provide for the initial release of 10 hostages.

Israel has not officially accepted or rejected the proposal, which was put forward by Egypt and Qatar weeks after a previous round of talks collapsed. Reports say Israel will give a formal response by Friday.

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But a senior Israeli official said: “Israel's policy is consistent and has not changed. Israel demands the release of all 50 hostages in accordance with the principles set by the cabinet to end the war,” in remarks briefed to Israeli media.

“We are at the final decisive stage of defeating Hamas and will not leave any hostage behind,” the official added.

Qatar said that the proposal Hamas has agreed to is “almost identical” to an earlier plan put forward by the US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Israel had previously agreed to the outline of the Witkoff plan, but withdrew negotiators from Qatar last month and blamed Hamas for the failure to reach a deal. Since then it has approved plans for a new offensive to seize Gaza city, triggering new efforts to stop the war.

“We received the response, as we said, from Hamas. It was a very positive response,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said. “However, we are still, of course, awaiting the Israeli side's response to this proposal.”

He added that while there was no timeframe for a response, Israel was looking into the matter and “we hope for a quick and positive response”.

The proposal includes a temporary, 60-day ceasefire and a path to a comprehensive agreement to end the war, Mr Al Ansari said.

Some hostages will be released in exchange for Palestinian detainees during the truce, he said.

Israeli troops are preparing for a new offensive to capture Gaza city. AFP

Israel's redeployment within the framework of this agreement will be accompanied by vast amounts of aid entering the strip, he added.

“We are at a decisive humanitarian moment. If we don't reach a deal now, we will face a humanitarian catastrophe that will make all those that preceded it pale in comparison,” the spokesman added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week said his country would accept “an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war”.

Hamas's acceptance of the proposal comes as Mr Netanyahu faces increasing pressure at home and abroad to end the war in Gaza.

Sources told The National on Monday that Hamas agreed to the Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a 60-day Gaza truce and the initial release of 10 Israeli hostages.

Hamas also agreed to hand over the remains of 18 hostages who have died while in captivity, the sources added.

The group has agreed to lay down and store its weapons under international supervision. It has also agreed to the deployment of an Arab force in Gaza under UN supervision to maintain security.

The sources said Hamas told Qatari and Egyptian mediators that it has dropped its condition for a written US guarantee that negotiations with Israel on a complete withdrawal from Gaza and for the ceasefire to continue until an agreement is reached.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 2023 attack that triggered the war, 49 are still in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

The latest proposal also comes after Israel's security cabinet approved plans for its military to take control of Gaza city and nearby refugee camps, fanning fears the new offensive will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the devastated territory.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is staunchly opposed to ending the war, rejected the new ceasefire initiative, warning of a “tragedy” if Mr Netanyahu “gives in to Hamas”.