Watan-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a proposal for a five-year ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of all Israeli hostages at once, according to a political source and Hebrew media reports on Monday.
Since October 7, 2023, with American support, Israel has been committing acts of genocide in Gaza, resulting in more than 171,000 Palestinian casualties, including the dead and wounded — most of them women and children — as well as over 11,000 missing persons.
An unnamed Israeli political source, in a statement circulated to Hebrew media, said: “Some Arab countries have ideas, such as a five-year cessation of the war.”
He continued: “There is no hope that we will agree to a ceasefire with Hamas that would, according to their claims, allow it to continue its war against Israel with even greater intensity.”
Typically, statements attributed to a “political source” are issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Israel’s official broadcasting authority (KAN) reported Monday: “Sources within Hamas stated that the delegation in Doha and Cairo proposed a comprehensive plan involving a five-year ceasefire and a mass hostage exchange.”
Tel Aviv estimates that there are currently 59 Israeli hostages in Gaza, of whom 24 are believed to be alive. Meanwhile, more than 9,900 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israeli jails, where they reportedly endure torture, starvation, and medical neglect, leading to numerous deaths, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights reports.
KAN added that Hamas’ proposal also includes “a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, reconstruction of the Strip, lifting of the blockade, and a return to the situation as it stood before March 2, 2025.”
The proposal also envisions “the establishment of a local committee of independent figures to govern Gaza,” according to the broadcaster, which noted that “sources confirmed the Hamas delegation refused to discuss disarmament.”
As of 14:10 GMT, no official comments had been made by the concerned parties regarding the statements from the political source or KAN.
-
-
-
-
-
-
