HAMAS has rejected Israel’s offer to cease fighting for seven days in exchange for the release of around 40 hostages.
In a Wall Street Journal report citing Egyptian officials, Israel proposed a deal that Hamas would release some 40 hostages, including all women and children, as well as elderly male hostages who require urgent medical care.
And in exchange, Israel would halt its air and ground operations in Gaza for a week and allow increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.
However, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad reportedly told the Egyptian mediators that Israel must halt its offensive in Gaza strip before they will talk about any potential deal.
The report also said that the Islamic Jihad demanded Israel free all Palestinian prisoners for the release of all remaining hostages, which is estimated at around 100.
Meanwhile, it is believed that there are thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad or P.I.J. is another Gaza-based organization backed by Iran. And the talks were also the first time that they took part.
More than 120 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza after Israel and Hamas held its week-long truce in late November.
The truce resulted in the release of more than 105 hostages in exchange for the freedom of 240 Palestinians in Israeli jails.
But the ceasefire eventually collapsed as Israel and Hamas accused each other o violating the deal.
The wall street journal’s report comes as Israeli President Isaac Herzog claimed that the Jewish state is ready for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid in order to enable the release of hostages.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Forces Spokesperson Daniel Hagari recently said that Israeli troops were nearing the NED of its ground offensive in Northern Gaza.
And that they had expanded their action in Khan Yunis, in the southern part of the besieged enclave.
Israel also issued evacuation orders in the area, as said by the United Nations.
The said are also serves as a shelter for around 140,000 displaced Palestinians.
Khan Yunis is also a place where the IDF believes that Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 attack, is hiding.
