Hamas mulls over fresh Israeli truce offer as mediators push for talks revival

Hamas is reviewing the latest counterproposal from Israel regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, following the arrival of an Egyptian mediation team in Israel to help restart the stalled peace talks.

This development comes amid Israeli military preparations for a potential incursion into Rafah, Gaza’s southern city, and continued regional conflicts linked to the war.

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, stated early Saturday that they received Israel’s response to their earlier position, which was communicated to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13. Hamas is now assessing this proposal and will respond once their review is complete.

Historically, Hamas has demanded a permanent ceasefire, a stance Israel has not agreed to. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been trying to broker a new truce since a temporary ceasefire in November, which temporarily halted the conflict and allowed an exchange of 80 Israeli hostages for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Israeli media, citing anonymous officials, reported that Israel’s war cabinet recently discussed a new truce and hostage release plan before the Egyptian delegation’s visit.

Al-Qahera News, associated with Egyptian state intelligence, noted a significant advancement in aligning the positions of the Egyptian and Israeli delegations.

The ongoing Gaza conflict is also a topic at an international summit in Saudi Arabia, with a session dedicated to Gaza featuring global leaders.

In other developments, fresh Israeli airstrikes were reported in Gaza around Rafah, the last major urban area not yet entered by Israeli ground forces. Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad warned that any military action in Rafah could jeopardize the peace negotiations, emphasizing Israel’s ongoing interest in the conflict.

The conflict, which escalated with a significant Hamas attack on October 7, has led to substantial casualties on both sides and significant destruction in Gaza, prompting international concern and calls for a ceasefire.

In a tragic note, a baby born in Rafah during the conflict and initially celebrated as a “miracle” has died. The baby’s mother was fatally wounded in an Israeli strike shortly before the child’s birth.

The potential Israeli military operation in Rafah has sparked protests across U.S. university campuses, with students displaying signs like “Stop the invasion! Hands off Rafah!” expressing their opposition.

Amidst this, the World Food Programme has raised alarms about the looming threat of famine in Gaza, prompting the European Union to increase humanitarian aid.

The conflict’s ripple effects have also been felt regionally, with increased hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, and another incident in the Red Sea involving a tanker attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The violence even touched Israel’s domestic sphere, with a stabbing attack near Tel Aviv and an accident involving Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was involved in a minor car crash after addressing the media.