Hamas Proposes Ceasefire Proposal Detailing Exchange of Hostages, Prisoners

Defense News ,Israel ,Hamas War :- Hamas, a group in charge in Gaza, has given a plan for stopping fighting to people helping with talks and the United States. They suggest letting Israeli hostages go if Israel sets free Palestinian prisoners, with about 100 of them serving life sentences, according to a plan Reuters saw.

Hamas says they want to let go of some Israeli hostages first, like women, children, older people, and sick ones. In return, they ask for 700 to 1000 Palestinian prisoners to be freed, including women who were soldiers.

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Hamas's new idea has "unrealistic demands."

Egypt and Qatar have been working to get Israel and Hamas to agree on what a ceasefire should involve. In Gaza, a lot of people are struggling to find food, with a quarter of them at risk of famine.

In February, there was a plan from talks in Paris suggesting a 40-day break from fighting and swapping Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages. The ratio was similar to what Hamas is suggesting now.

Israel turned down that plan too because they want to destroy Hamas and end the fighting. Hamas wants an agreement to end the war.

Hamas says they're okay with setting a date for a long-lasting ceasefire after the first prisoner exchange. They also want to decide when Israel will leave Gaza after the first step.

They say both sides' prisoners will be freed later on in the plan.

Recently, Hamas told people helping with talks about their big picture for peace. It includes stopping what they call Israeli attacks on people in Gaza, giving aid, letting displaced people return home, and Israeli troops leaving.

The United Nations warns that over half a million people in Gaza are close to not having enough food. Many are pushing Israel to let more aid in.

The war started after Hamas attacked some towns in southern Israel in October, leaving many people dead or hostages, according to Israel.

Since then, Israel's attacks on Gaza have killed tens of thousands and injured even more, according to Gaza's health officials.