Israel Weighs 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Hostage Prisoner Exchange

Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal brokered by regional mediators Egypt and Qatar that envisions a 60-day truce, including a mutual release of hostages and prisoners, with Israel required to retreat to a buffer zone extending 800 meters into Gaza. The plan includes Israel freeing around 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, some serving life sentences, in exchange for 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased, while allowing 600 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza daily, aiming to alleviate severe humanitarian crises. Israel is currently assessing the proposal amid domestic political divisions and demands that all hostages be released for a permanent truce, with some government factions opposing any ceasefire until Hamas is defeated. The Israeli government is expected to respond to the mediators by Friday as international and domestic pressures mount, including large protests demanding the release of Israeli hostages. Diplomatic efforts, supported by the U.S., continue to push for indirect talks, but Israel's insistence on Hamas's demilitarization and control over weapons complicates progress. Meanwhile, the conflict's toll continues to rise with significant casualties and injuries reported in Gaza amid ongoing military actions.