Israel yesterday said that it received Hamas’ latest ceasefire proposal, with an Israeli official calling it “workable,” although no details were provided.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on record.
Hamas in a statement said that it sent the proposal to mediators.
Photo: Reuters
The offer came a day after more than 100 charity and human rights groups said that Israel’s blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip toward starvation.
Experts say Gaza is at risk of famine because of Israel’s blockade and the offensive launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
The Hamas response came as US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff was set to travel to Europe, where he was scheduled to meet with key leaders from the Middle East to discuss the latest ceasefire proposal and the release of hostages.
Israel’s war in Gaza, which was launched in response to Hamas’ attack, has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
An Israeli official familiar with ceasefire talks said that the Hamas proposal was “workable” and that Israel was studying it.
Israel said that it was reviewing Hamas’ response to the latest ceasefire proposal to potentially wind down the war.
A statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed receipt of the Hamas response, but did not specify what it entailed.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials said that two Palestinian teenage boys were killed by Israeli fire on Wednesday night in the West Bank.
Israel’s military said its forces had fired at Palestinians who were throwing Molotov cocktails toward a highway, killing two near the West Bank town of al-Khader.
Palestinian health officials named the teens killed as Ahmed al-Salah, 15, and Mohammed Khaled Alian Issa, 17.
Violence has spiraled in the West Bank.
More than 955 Palestinians have been killed there by Israeli fire since the war began, UN data showed.
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