ALBAWABA - Axios reported citing two Israeli officials and one source with knowledge of the proposal that Hamas has sent a new hostage exchange deal to Israel. However, it said that the Israeli government rejected the proposal.
The American news website added that Hamas suggested the new proposal, which according to the officials consisted of a three-phase process, through Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Axios reported that the three-phase process would include a pause in fighting for over a month in exchange for the release of hostages. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas' military group launched a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel.
During the al-Qassam Brigades operation, more than 200 Israelis were taken as hostages from a kibbutz on the border with the Gaza Strip.
An earlier hostage exchange deal was agreed between Hamas and Israel, in which the resistance group released multiple hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians from Israeli jails.
According to an official, the new suggested deal was discussed and rejected by the Israeli government as it was described as "totally off base".
"We asked the mediators to try and produce a more acceptable proposal. They are working on it and let's see what happens," the official said.
The official maintained: "We are in the pre-beginning of the talks. The negotiations are not stuck anymore but they are also not making significant progress yet."
