Military strategy progresses - evaluates Gaza plan - Israel progresses with war strategy, yet deliberates over Gaza proposal
In a significant turn of events, Hamas has agreed to a new ceasefire and hostage release proposal put forward by regional mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and based on a framework advanced by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
The latest proposal is a comprehensive two-stage plan involving a 60-day temporary truce. During this period, Hamas would release around half of the 50 Israeli hostages still held, with about 20 believed to be alive, in two stages. The truce period would be used to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal.
This proposal is an evolution of earlier peace efforts dating back to mid-2024 and early 2025, including prior ceasefires and prisoner exchanges, although those arrangements were broken by renewed hostilities in March 2025.
As of the latest reports, there has been no immediate official comment from Israeli authorities regarding this new agreement. This indicates the situation remains fluid, with hopes that the truce will hold while further negotiations continue.
The agreement by Hamas is largely due to pressure from Egypt and Qatar to prevent Israel's planned takeover of the Gaza city. Reports suggest that Israel's military leadership is planning to deploy at least 80,000 soldiers for the takeover of Gaza city.
Israel is determined to implement the Security Cabinet's decision to take the city of Gaza, unless a framework is presented that includes the release of all hostages and an end to the war under the conditions laid out by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, there are fears that the planned offensive will exacerbate the catastrophic situation of the civilian population in the sealed coastal strip. The international community has been critical of the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties during the Gaza war, and Israel's military leadership is facing growing international criticism.
Arab mediators have presented Hamas with two options: accept a temporary ceasefire or agree to a comprehensive deal involving the release of all hostages and an end to the war, in exchange for giving up their power and weapons. The Security Cabinet decided to expand the war over a week ago.
In a related development, one of the Hamas fighters allegedly involved in the abduction of Yarden Bibas has been killed by the Israeli army. Yarden Bibas was the only one of his family to survive captivity and was released during a ceasefire in February.
The construction of around 3,400 housing units in the E1 area between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, which would effectively divide the West Bank into a northern and southern part, is also being discussed.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
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