Israel Proposes New Hostage Agreement To Hamas

JAKARTA - Israel has given its latest proposal for a hostage-taking deal to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, reports Axios citing two Israeli officials.

According to the report, this is similar to the gradual plan discussed in August, but is now focused primarily on the completion of the first phase.

The Hamas group has also shown new openness to partial agreements, the officials said, quoted from The Times of Israel Dec. 5.

In its latest proposal, Israel is willing to consider a ceasefire option that will last up to 60 days, while previously the first phase was only 42 days.

During the ceasefire, said Axios, all the surviving female hostages, all the living men over 50 and those with serious medical conditions will be released.

Israel itself has demanded 33 surviving hostages from these groups, but believes not many are still alive.

On the other hand, Israel is willing to release hundreds of Palestinian security detainees, including some who serve life sentences for deadly terror attacks.

According to the report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several senior ministers and chief security chiefs approved the proposal on Sunday, then handed it over to Egypt, who then submitted it to Hamas in Cairo on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Mass Boulos who was elected adviser to the Middle East Donald Trump told French media Le Point, "the two sides have agreed to a outline of the deal."

"The practical war is over," he said.

"Practicals are no longer significant military activity. The only remaining problem is the hostages, and the parties have agreed on several occasions regarding the exchange between the hostages and Palestinian prisoners," he said.

"The main lines of the deal have been set and there are few details to be completed regarding several names. The number of people released (on the Palestinian side) and the exchange period must be carried out," he said.