Hamas Proposes Counter Proposal For 135-Day Ceasefire-RTRS

Reuters claims to have seen a draft of the counterproposal from Hamas regarding a ceasefire. The group's plan would see the fighting halted for 135 days in three 45-day phases to allow for the return of all Israeli hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The draft claims that "By the end of the third phase, Hamas would expect the sides to have reached agreement on an end to the war."

• On 6 Feb, Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani stated in a briefing that the Israeli proposal had been recieved a 'generally positive' response from Hamas.
• On the Hamas counterproposal US President Joe Biden stated that its demandswere "a little over the top". These comments were not echoed by his Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is in the Middle East in an effort to push forward negotiations.
• Despite the obfuscation and difficulty of knowing the exact progress of talks, this remains the closest point to a lasting ceasefire during the Israel-Hamas war so far. With a counterproposal now on the table, the pressure falls on Israel.
• International pressure to end its campaign in Gaza is growing by the day. However, with the ultranationalist right holding key gov't positions, and promises after 7 Oct to wipe out Hamas - not negotiate a peace - there is no guarantee PM Benjamin Netanyahu accepts such a deal.