The Hamas Group Reportedly Received A Ceasefire And Hostage Release Agreement

JAKARTA - The militant group Hamas has approved a proposed 60-day ceasefire with Israel, including the return of half of the hostages detained in Gaza and the release of several Palestinian prisoners by Israel, an official Egyptian source said on Monday.

An official Egyptian source stated that the proposal received by Hamas included a 60-day suspension of Israeli military operations and outlined a framework for a comprehensive deal to end the conflict that has lasted nearly two years.

A source familiar with the negotiations said the proposal was very similar to the previous plan submitted by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel had received.

Hamas senior official Basem Naim confirmed the group's approval on Facebook.

The mediators met Hamas representatives in Cairo on Sunday. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani joined the discussions on Monday, meeting and meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Hamas representatives, an official briefed on the meeting said.

Hamas said other Palestinian factions had also notified mediators of their approval.

A Hamas official told Reuters on Monday his group rejected Israeli demands to strip off weapons or expel its leaders from Gaza.

There was no Israeli response to Hamas' own proposal, but an Israeli official confirmed the proposal had been accepted.

It is known that Egypt and Qatar have mediated between the two sides and the support of the United States.

Earlier, the final round of ceasefire negotiations ended in a deadlock at the end of July, with both sides blaming each other for their failure.

Israel has agreed to stop hostilities if all hostages are released and Hamas lays down their weapons. The last charge was publicly rejected by the militant group until the Palestinian state stood.

Sharp dissent also appears to still exist over the extent of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and how humanitarian aid will be delivered around the enclave, where malnutrition is rampant and aid groups warn of hunger.

Meanwhile, the death toll from Israeli aggression October 7, 2023, and hunger and malnutrition due to blockades in the Gaza Strip, Palestine again added on Monday.

Medical sources in Gaza confirmed that the death toll in Gaza as of Monday had reached 62,004 people, the majority of children and women, while the injured reached 156,230 people, as reported by WAFA.

Also on Monday, Gaza Strip hospitals recorded five deaths from hunger and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including two children, bringing the total death toll from hunger and malnutrition to 263, including 112 children.