Hamas Soon to Reply to Latest Israeli Ceasefire Proposal, First Shares Hostage Footage

Written by Jillian Shaw | May 1, 2024

Hamas officials shared on Saturday their plans to respond to the latest Israeli proposed ceasefire after they finish examining the conditions. One Hamas official told NPR representatives that the new proposal appears to heed conditions set by Hamas earlier this month, but that the group was “still studying” them. Also on Saturday, Hamas released footage of two Israeli hostages, Keith Siegel and Omri Miran. In the video, the two refer to Passover, the Jewish holiday that began last Monday, and urged Israel to finalize a deal with Hamas. 

The intensification of recent negotiations comes while Israel’s planned assault on Rafah looms overhead. Rafah, one of the southernmost cities in Gaza on the border with Egypt, continues to be the main target for Israeli hostilities, with airstrikes hitting the city daily. Israeli forces believe the unrelenting attack is necessary to target the remaining Hamas militant groups allegedly hiding there. Over one million Gazan citizens have relocated to Rafah since October 7th, causing Israeli allies like the U.S. to voice concern over an increased Rafah offensive. Most recently, Saturday airstrikes in Rafah killed at least four children and nine adults, according to the Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital. The Israeli government has blamed Hamas for the civilian deaths in Rafah due to the supposed harbored militants.

International mediation led by Egypt has been trying to solidify the proposal, with Egyptian representatives leaving Israeli negotiations on Friday. According to an AP source, the current proposal would cease hostilities enough to let displaced Gazans from the north return to their homes. The Egyptian delegation spoke of a “new vision” for a Gazan ceasefire and is attempting to fulfill both sides’ conditions and demands. Negotiations have been stalled in the last few weeks over the release of hostages and the time-length of the ceasefire, with Israel and Hamas demanding contradictory conditions. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Israel on Tuesday in response to allegations of human rights violations by Israel in the West Bank and the U.S.’s recent pushback against Israel’s military action in Rafah. But, simultaneously, Blinken has postponed a recent plan to block aid to Israel, wanting to give them the opportunity to “right the wrongdoing.” Additionally, China plans to host Palestinian leaders from Hamas and the Abbas’ Fatah party sometime next week. The U.S. would not recognize or support the collaboration of these two groups, as it designates Hamas as a terrorist organization but recognizes Abbas’ Fatah as the legitimate political leadership in the Palestinian Authority.