Senior Israeli official sets date for ceasefire: If Hamas accepts

A "60-day ceasefire" decision is expected between Israel and Hamas. According to Israeli media, an unnamed senior official stated they believe Hamas will respond to the latest hostage exchange and ceasefire proposal within 24 hours, adding, "If they accept, the ceasefire could take place next week."

"LET US HOPE THEY REALIZE IT IS TIME FOR THIS TO END"

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Israeli media, "Let us hope they realize it is time for this to end. The reason it has not ended before is that Hamas does not want to relinquish its control over the hostages."

When asked about reports that U.S. President Donald Trump conditioned aid to Israel on the termination of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criminal trial, Huckabee replied, "Trump was not trying to interfere in Israel's affairs or tell Israeli courts what to do; it was just an observation. He was observing as a friend a situation that had also happened to him, and he was acknowledging that."

10 ISRAELI HOSTAGES TO BE RELEASED UNDER CEASEFIRE

The exact details of the new 60-day ceasefire and hostage deal proposal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump remain unclear. According to Israeli and U.S. media, the 60-day ceasefire agreement includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages by Hamas and the handover of the bodies of 18 hostages.

An Israeli official stated that under the latest proposal, the Netanyahu government has agreed to allow large quantities of humanitarian aid to pass through traditional United Nations (UN) humanitarian channels into the Gaza Strip, rather than through the Israel-U.S. joint Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

HAMAS WANTS A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE

In the ceasefire negotiations, Hamas insists on its demands for "a permanent end to the attacks, the delivery of humanitarian aid to be managed by the United Nations, and the withdrawal of Israel to the positions it held on March 2."

The Israeli side, meanwhile, is focusing on the "demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and the destruction of Hamas's military capacity and governance capabilities," in addition to the return of the hostages.

News Source: İHA