Israel sends counter-proposal on Gaza deal, moves into Rafah

Georgi Azar and Fadwa Hodali, Bloomberg News on Mar 29, 2025

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it conveyed a counteroffer to mediators, in coordination with the U.S., following reports that Hamas had agreed to an Egyptian proposal on a potential new truce in Gaza.

Hamas agreed to release five living hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire beginning over Eid al-Fitr, according to Israeli officials who weren’t identified, cited by the Israeli Walla news site. There were no details on Israel’s counterproposal.

Hamas leader Khalil Haya confirmed the new offer, according to a post on Telegram. “We received a new offer from the mediators two days ago and we agreed to it and we hope that the occupation will not disrupt it.”

Separately, the Israel Defense Forces said it had begun conducting ground activity in the al Janina area of Rafah “in order to expand the security zone in southern Gaza.”

“As part of the activity, the troops dismantled Hamas terrorist infrastructure,” the IDF said in a WhatsApp message, adding that it continued aerial strikes throughout the Gaza Strip.

Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza on March 18 following a two-month truce. Israel says the war won’t end until Hamas relinquishes power and releases the remaining 59 hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza. The two sides have continued indirect talks over a new ceasefire, but the negotiations have largely stalled.

Since the ceasefire collapsed, Israeli attacks have killed more than 830 Palestinians. That raised the total death toll in Gaza since the conflict started to more than 50,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties.

Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union, has ruled Gaza since 2007.

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