Following the New York Times report from Sunday on an emerging 60-day truce, Israeli officials have stopped short of denying its accurateness and the apparent changes it involves regarding proposal drafted by US Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
The changes, which were made in recent weeks and were designed to bring Hamas to agree, include a a dramatic change that Israel Hayom can now reveal:
The most significant shift involves Israel's apparent acceptance of complete military withdrawal to the Gaza Strip border, abandoning positions captured during the conflict. However, one critical exception remains – Israeli forces would maintain their presence along the Morag Corridor in the southern Gaza Strip, which separates the southern tip of the enclave, including Rafah, from its northern part.
Effectively confirming the New York Times report, an Israeli source said that the emerging deal will include release of 10 of the remaining living hostages and recovery of 18 deceased captives that Hamas still holds in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
According to the New York Times report, the main change in the new proposal is the timeline for hostage releases and recovery of bodies, which will spread across five points over a 60-day period. The previous proposal stated that the ten living hostages would be released within seven days. Senior Hamas officials claimed in recent weeks in response that this would allow Israel to resume fighting on the eighth day. Now, sources close to the organization say there is "satisfaction" with guarantees for ceasefire implementation.
According to the publication, Hamas will also refrain from filmed handover ceremonies like those it conducted when releasing hostages during the two-month pause that began in January.
