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Israel Hamas War

In a recent development, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States has put forward a proposal aimed at facilitating a deal between Israel and Hamas. The objective is to secure the release of 40 hostages currently held in Gaza. However, Hamas has reportedly stated that they do not categorize all 40 hostages as alive and in need of humanitarian assistance.

According to Yaron Avraham, a political reporter and presenter at News 12, Hamas has informed mediators that the number of hostages they consider alive is significantly lower than what has been proposed. They specifically mentioned that women, children, the elderly, and the sick are among those they do not consider alive.

The proposed deal includes a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the secure release of hostages. This initiative follows a meeting between CIA Director Bill Burns, the head of Israel's Mossad, the Prime Minister of Qatar, and the Egyptian spy chief in Cairo on Sunday. The aim of the meeting was to find a solution to the deadlock in negotiations.

During the same period, a senior Hamas delegation was also present in Cairo and engaged in separate discussions with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

In addition to the release of the hostages, the proposed deal involves the release of over 700 Palestinian prisoners, including more than 100 individuals serving life sentences for their involvement in attacks on Israelis.

Despite the proposal, Hamas has rejected an Israeli ceasefire offer made during talks in Cairo. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that a date has been set for an invasion of Rafah, which is Gaza's last refuge for displaced Palestinians.

Hamas has described the proposal received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators as "intransigent" and stated that it does not meet the demands of Palestinian factions. The group has committed to reviewing the proposal and delivering its response to the mediators.

The situation in Gaza has been marked by ongoing violence, with the Hamas-run Ministry of Health reporting that over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of war on October 7. Of the 253 individuals seized by Hamas on October 7, 133 hostages remain in captivity, with negotiators aiming for the release of around 40 hostages in the initial phase of any potential deal.