Hamas changes to hostage deal proposal include demand for 7-year ceasefire, Israeli official says

Hamas has requested a ceasefire lasting up to seven years in its response to the latest hostage and ceasefire proposal from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, an Israeli official confirms to The Times of Israel.

The terror group’s response includes several edits to the framework, among them the demand for a years-long truce, a full IDF withdrawal from all territory captured since March, the cancellation of the new aid distribution model in Gaza, and a return to the previous aid mechanism, Ynet reported earlier.

A source directly involved in the negotiations told The Times of Israel earlier that Hamas demanded changes that would make it harder for Israel to resume its military campaign if talks on a permanent ceasefire are not completed by the end of the 60-day truce.