The Jerusalem Post reports: “Israel on Monday rejected a proposal crafted by Hamas for a partial deal that would see the release of five hostages.

‘[The proposal is] very far away from the outline that we are willing to negotiate on,’ an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.

The proposal was formulated by Hamas and passed on to the US through direct backchannel communications. The US then presented the proposal to Israel. Notably, the US didn’t say whether it supported the proposal or not.  

The proposal included the release of five living hostages in return for the following points: IDF withdrawing to its positions in Gaza from two months ago, allowing humanitarian aid into all areas of Gaza, continued talks for the release of remaining living and dead hostages, what was described as ‘some kind of American recognition of Hamas.’…”