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On Friday, the radical Palestinian group Hamas announced that it is considering a plan proposed by the United States to restore the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This signal came against the backdrop of intensified Israeli military action aimed at releasing Israeli hostages and the final military exhaustion of Hamas. This was reported by Reuters.
The so-called “bridge” plan was presented last week by US Special Representative Steve Whitkoff. Its goal is to extend the ceasefire until April, after the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover, to create a time corridor for negotiations on a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Despite encouraging signals from Hamas, Israel rejected proposals for a two-month truce. Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli armed forces are increasing the intensity of ground, air and naval operations in southern Gaza, accompanied by the evacuation of civilians.
“We will not stop until Hamas releases all hostages and is completely destroyed,” Katz said.
Despite the heavy losses, including the elimination of the head of the Gaza government and other senior representatives of the group, Palestinian and Israeli sources point out that Hamas retains the ability to resist, organise and govern.
Hamas representatives said they were still discussing Whitkoff’s proposal and other options with a view to concluding a comprehensive agreement that would include the release of hostages, an end to the war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
An anonymous source among Palestinian officials told Reuters that Egypt has also presented its own transition plan, but Hamas has not yet responded to it. According to two sources in Egypt’s security forces, the plan provides for a specific timeline for the release of hostages and a schedule for the withdrawal of Israeli troops – with the support of US guarantees.
The United States, according to these sources, has already given preliminary approval. Hamas and Israel are expected to respond later on Friday.
The first phase of the ceasefire ended in early March, but attempts to agree on the terms of the second phase failed. Hamas suspended the release of hostages, and Israel resumed large-scale hostilities.
After a two-month period of relative calm, Gazans are once again forced to flee during a new wave of Israeli offensive, accompanied by a renewed blockade and a cut-off of humanitarian aid.
According to the Israeli side, 59 of the more than 250 people abducted by Hamas during the 7 October 2023 attack remain in Gaza, of whom at least 24 are believed to be still alive. Israel insists that the longer Hamas holds hostages, the more territory it will lose.
