Overview
- Hamas has proposed releasing all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the entry of humanitarian aid.
- International mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, are actively working to broker a ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
- The Forum des familles d’otages in Israel opposes phased exchanges, calling for the immediate release of all hostages in a single step as part of a comprehensive agreement.
- Hamas has refused to disarm its fighters, stating that 'the weapons of the resistance are not negotiable,' despite Israeli demands for disarmament as part of any deal.
- The conflict, which began after Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel, has resulted in over 50,000 deaths in Gaza and 1,218 in Israel, with ongoing military operations escalating casualties.