New hostage deal on the horizon? Hamas said to agree to release of 5 hostages for 7-week ceasefire

Hamas claimed to have “responded positively” to a new Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire between Israel and the terror group, according to a report by the Associated Press on Monday.

Israeli sources cited Channel 12 News confirming that Egyptian mediators had presented a new proposal and that Israel recognized “slight positive indications,” but cautioned that large gaps remained.

According to the Associated Press, the new proposal would see Hamas release five living Israeli hostages, including the American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.

In return, Israel would be expected to guarantee a seven-week ceasefire, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and restore humanitarian aid to Gaza “on a large scale.”

According to a report from Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Egyptian proposal also included a commitment by Hamas to provide detailed information on the living, dead and wounded Israeli hostages, along with photographic proof.

In addition, the proposal was said to include a commitment to enter more in-depth negotiations over a timetable for the release of the remaining hostages, in exchange for a gradual and final withdrawal of IDF troops from the Gaza Strip.

Israel's Kan News also reported that Hamas may be willing to release the remaining living hostages in exchange for several concessions that would need to be negotiated. This is expected to include an end to the war and the withdrawal of all forces from the Gaza Strip.

The Tikva Forum, a smaller and more hawkish group of hostage families than the mainstream Hostages and Missing Families Forum, condemned reports of the Egyptian proposal.

“Another proposal and another selection. Once again, individual hostages are singled out and the fate of other hostages is being decided,” the forum stated.

“We now demand that the Prime Minister and all members of the Cabinet strongly oppose and not allow another selection among the hostages. The Israeli government must take them all out at once, in one bus, and until then increase military pressure, occupy territory in the Gaza Strip and prevent all humanitarian aid, electricity and water from [reaching] Hamas.”

After the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, Israel cut the aid, as well as a remaining electricity line to the enclave, in a bid to pressure the terror group to release more hostages.

The moves were seen as part of a series of escalating steps by Israel, which could ultimately lead to the resumption of full-scale war.

In the absence of any concessions by Hamas, the IDF, meanwhile, continues to broaden its renewed ground operations in Gaza.

On Monday, IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee warned Gazans to evacuate the area of Tel a-Sultan, in the southern city of Rafah, ahead of Israeli military operations there.

Hours later, Gazan sources reported a significant and rapid advance of Israeli troops in the area, as well as near the humanitarian area al-Mawasi near Khan Younis.

In addition, Israeli troops are operating in the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects the enclave, and are expanding the buffer zone in northern Gaza near Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya.