US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has set out a new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which includes the release of 10 hostages, Israeli media reported.
According to the draft plan, the hostages would be freed in two groups within a week. The Palestinian militant group Hamas would also be required to hand over the bodies of 18 abductees still held in Gaza, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
The proposed truce aims to facilitate negotiations between Israel and Hamas to end the nearly 20-month conflict that began with Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.
If an agreement is reached, the remaining hostages held in Gaza would be released under the latest plan.
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The proposal also states that aid distribution in Gaza would be managed again by the UN and international organisations.
The Israeli military is to withdraw to its pre-offensive positions from before March, according to the proposal.
Israeli sources say at least 20 hostages remain alive in Gaza. The fate of three others is uncertain, while the bodies of 35 abductees are believed to be held in the sealed-off coastal territory.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Witkoff expressed optimism about the ceasefire, saying he had “very good feelings” about reaching a long-term peaceful solution to the conflict.
