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Monday, March 24, 2025
Israel has not received new hostage deal proposal, official says
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Israel has not received any new proposal for a hostage release, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.
An Egyptian official told the AP earlier today that Hamas “responded positively” to an outline that would see five living hostages released for an extended pause in the fighting.
“We haven’t heard of any new proposal,” says the official.
Israel is still trying to get Hamas to agree to the US-backed “Witkoff proposal,” says the official. The proposal, rejected by Hamas thus far, would have seen the ceasefire extended through April 19 and have Hamas release five living hostages in exchange for a large number of Palestinian security prisoners. Israel says it accepted Witkoff’s proposal, but the proposal would only have freed 11 living hostages.
If Hamas doesn’t agree to Israel’s terms, “we will keep increasing the pressure until Hamas breaks,” says the official.
If that doesn’t happen, Israel “will embark on a widespread ground campaign” in Gaza, according to the official.
Israel has not yet decided on what it will do “on the civilian side” in Gaza, including whether it will implement a military government over the Strip.
The Times of Israel Community.