Security official: Hostages could’ve been home already had Israel accepted offer on table

Channel 12 quotes a senior Israeli security official who says that living hostages could have already returned home last week had Israel accepted the phased proposal crafted by Arab mediators that Hamas approved on August 18.

The offer envisions the release of 10 hostages along with the bodies of 18 slain captives who would be released in five batches over a 60-day ceasefire during which the sides will hold talks on the terms of the release of the remaining hostages and a permanent end to the war that would go into place at the conclusion of the two-month truce if agreements are reached.

The phased proposal is nearly identical to the one crafted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel approved last month before Hamas added new demands in late July that led to the collapse of talks, Arab diplomats told The Times of Israel.

The Arab mediators subsequently managed to bring Hamas down from those new demands, but Israel in the meantime has said it is no longer interested in a phased deal.

Israel has yet to even hold a cabinet meeting on the phased proposal, Channel 12 says, adding that several of Israel’s security chiefs are slated to press the government during a Sunday planned ministerial meeting to accept the offer rather than proceed with plans to take over Gaza City, which will risk the lives of the hostages.

The security chiefs backing the phased deal are joined by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, but do not include the acting chief of the Shin Bet, Channel 12 indicated, without identifying the supporters of the proposal by name.