Israeli Officials Propose Two-Month Pause in Fighting to Allow for the Release of Hostages: Report

AP Photo/Fatima Shbair

Axios reported on Monday that officials with the Israel Defense Force proposed a two-month ceasefire in fighting to Hamas for the purpose of releasing Israeli hostages.

Reporter Barak Ravid wrote that the IDF offer went through mediators in Qatar and Egypt, signaling the longest proposed period of suspended fighting since Israel’s response to the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7:

Two Israeli officials said the Israeli war cabinet approved ten days ago the parameters of a new proposal for a hostage deal, which are different from past aspects of deals rejected by Hamas and more forward-leaning than previous Israeli proposals.

He added:

Israeli officials said they are waiting for a response from Hamas but stressed they are cautiously optimistic about the ability to make progress in the coming days.

Ravid also described the “multi-phase deal” to release the remaining 130 hostages:

According to the proposal, the deal would include the release of all remaining hostages who are alive and the return of the bodies of dead hostages in several phases. The first phase would see the release of women, men over the age of 60 years old and hostages who are in critical medical condition, the officials said.

The next phases would include the release of female soldiers, men under the age of 60 years old who are not soldiers, Israeli male soldiers and the bodies of hostages.

The deal also involved the release of some Palestinian prisoners, however “the proposal makes clear Israel will not agree to end the war and will not agree to release all 6,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.”

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated on Monday at the White House press briefing that President Joe Biden supports a “humanitarian pause” that would allow for the release of hostages. Ravid noted that Biden advisor Brett McGurk also traveled to Egypt over the weekend and will “continue to Qatar” for discussions on the hostages.

Read more at Axios.