Israel has offered Hamas a 40-day ceasefire and the release of ‘potentially thousands’ of Palestinian prisoners in return for freeing Israeli hostages, it is gathered.

The intelligence comes amid reports that Israel has reduced the number of hostages it is seeking to be freed in the first phase of a new truce, saying it will settle for the release of just 33 people initially as all parties desperately seek a deal after months of deadlock.

Israel – Gaza Latest

Before now, Israel has been pushing for the release of at least 40 hostages, including women, children, the seriously ill and the elderly, over recent months. 

But amid heightened domestic pressure from protesters to bring the hostages home, the government is now prepared to settle for the release of fewer people to kickstart a ceasefire deal, the New York Times reports citing three Israeli officials. 

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Israel Made a Generous Offer to Hamas

Now, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron described it as ‘a very generous offer’ as he spoke during a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

‘I hope Hamas do take this deal and frankly, all the pressure in the world and all the eyes of the world should be on them today saying take that deal,’ Cameron said, adding the proposal would lead to a ‘stop in the fighting that we all want to see so badly’.

A Hamas delegation is due in Egypt, where it is expected to respond to the latest proposal for a truce in Gaza and a release of hostages after almost seven months of war.