Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostages
Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials

Israel has reportedly proposed a two-month pause in fighting with Hamas as part of a deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza.
The proposal, offered via Qatari and Egyptian mediators, "is the longest period of ceasefire that Israel has offered Hamas since the start of the war", said Barak Ravid, political reporter and Middle East expert, on Axios.
Crucially, Ravid added, the proposal "doesn't include an agreement to end the war" in Gaza, where more than 25,000 people have died in retaliatory Israeli bombardment for the 7 October attacks, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. But if the deal were implemented, "IDF operations in Gaza would be significantly smaller in scope and intensity" after the pause.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
US officials told Axios that the proposal might be "the only path that could lead to a ceasefire in Gaza".
The deal is similar to other Israeli proposals since the seven-day truce ended nearly two months ago, which were rejected by Hamas. However, certain parameters, agreed by Israeli officials 10 days ago, are "more forward-leaning", said Ravid. Hamas had previously insisted it would not release hostages until the fighting in Gaza stopped completely.
The US "has been heavily involved in negotiations" towards a hostage deal, said The Telegraph, as Joe Biden has come under "growing pressure" to help secure peace.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also facing mounting criticism, with the families of some hostages storming his country's parliament on Monday and demanding that he secure their release.
At a meeting with relatives of some of the 130 hostages still being held, Netanyahu said that "contrary to what has been said, there is no real Hamas proposal".
TV station Channel 12 later published a recording of the meeting. The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu could be heard saying: "There is a proposal of mine, which I also passed in the war cabinet. We conveyed it and now there is, as they say, a tug of war."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.
-
Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine
Speed Read Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks
-
Israel's plan for confining all Palestinians in 'humanitarian city'
The Explainer Defence minister wants to establish zone in Gaza for displaced people – which they would not be allowed to leave – prompting accusations of war crimes
-
Ukraine scrambles as Trump cuts weapons deliveries
Speed Read The halting of weapons shipments was driven by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, a Ukraine funding skeptic
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
The armed clan allied with Israel in Gaza
Under the Radar Self-styled 'Popular Forces' has been denounced by its Bedouin tribe and Hamas for 'collaborating' with Israel
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran