Hamas is currently evaluating a new ceasefire proposal from Israel that includes a 45-day truce in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who spoke with CNN. The proposal, received on Monday, suggests the staged release of 10 Israeli hostages, including Israeli-American Edan Alexander, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The proposed truce would serve as a framework to negotiate a permanent ceasefire. However, it includes provisions that remain contentious—most notably, the disarmament of Gaza, a condition Hamas has consistently rejected. The proposal also lacks a guarantee of a permanent end to the war, another key demand from the militant group.
Despite the lack of a permanent peace clause, the offer marks Israel’s first concrete step toward hostage negotiations since resuming military operations in March. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces increasing domestic pressure from families of hostages and military reservists pushing for a resolution.
As part of the deal, Israel demands information on remaining living hostages in exchange for intelligence about Palestinian detainees. The proposal also calls for the return of the bodies of 16 deceased Israeli hostages in exchange for the remains of 160 deceased Palestinians held by Israel.
In addition to halting military activity for 45 days, the deal would allow the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where over 2 million civilians face severe shortages due to Israel’s ongoing blockade and recent military offensives. The plan outlines a mechanism to ensure aid reaches only civilians and permits the entry of equipment to shelter displaced Palestinians.
The Israeli military would temporarily withdraw from parts of Gaza, including Rafah in the south and areas in the north and east of Gaza City, for seven days. Formal talks for a permanent ceasefire would begin on the third day of the truce, according to the Hamas official.
Mediators from Egypt and Qatar met with Hamas representatives in Cairo over the weekend, although Israel has not confirmed whether it sent a delegation to the negotiations.
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with the Ministry of Health reporting over 1,500 Palestinian deaths since mid-March amid continued Israeli operations and restricted humanitarian aid.
