Israel, Hamas in talks for return of 10 living hostages, partial IDF withdrawal

Latest proposed Gaza deal reportedly centers around the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 dead captives during a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the freeing of jailed Arab terrorists.

By World Israel News Staff

A potential Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal under consideration in brokered talks between Israel and Hamas would include the release of just 10 living hostages over the course of 60 days, multiple sources have claimed, marking a deviation from a framework laid out by the Trump administration.

On Wednesday, The New York Times published a report citing an Israeli defense official and a Palestinian source close to the Hamas terror organization who claimed that talks between the two sides are currently focused on a proposal that would include the return of just 28 of the remaining 50 hostages, including both living and dead captives.

Israeli intelligence estimates that about 20 of the 50 hostages are still alive, with clear indications that most of the remaining 30 were either killed before being taken into Gaza or died while in captivity.

Under the proposed deal now on the table, the report said, Hamas would return 10 of the living hostages to Israel over the course of five separate releases, with two captives freed each time.

In addition, Hamas would return the remains of 18 slain captives.

In exchange, Israel would free an unspecified number of jailed Arab terrorists.

The latest proposal, which retains the 60-day time frame backed by the United States, deviates from key terms laid out by the Trump administration in May.

Under the American proposal, all remaining hostages would be returned by day seven of the ceasefire. In addition, both sides would commit to negotiations during the ceasefire with the aim of achieving a permanent end to the war.

According to a report by the Beirut-based Al-Akhbar newspaper, the emerging Gaza deal also mandates a partial Israeli withdrawal, with the IDF pulling back to the positions it held in Gaza at the end of the previous ceasefire, which expired on March 2.

The report added that under the proposal, Israel would permit the resumption of aid transfers by the United Nations to Gaza.

UN relief efforts have been marred by widespread looting and seizure by Hamas terrorists, prompting the introduction of an alternative aid transfer system relying on the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.