The U.S. Calls for Rewriting Parts of the Ceasefire and Hostage Release Plan to Revive Negotiations Between Israel and Hamas

The United States has proposed rewriting parts of a proposed plan to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of Israeli hostages in order to revive talks. Axios news agency reported on Saturday, July 9, citing three informed sources, that the U.S., along with Qatar and Egypt, is focused on amending Article 8 of its plan regarding negotiations between Israel and Hamas during the six-week ceasefire period set in the first phase. According to one of these sources, the U.S. is struggling to find a formula to reach an agreement, and another source predicted that if Hamas agrees to the proposed changes, an agreement could be reached. In the first phase of the U.S. proposal, hostilities in Gaza are to be halted for six weeks, during which female, elderly, and sick hostages will be released. During this period, Israel and Hamas will negotiate a second six-week ceasefire and the implementation of the release of living hostages, including young men and male soldiers. If Hamas, the group supported by the Islamic Republic, fails to comply with its commitments under the agreement, Israel will be allowed to resume hostilities. Reports indicate that Hamas wants the first phase negotiations to focus on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners who will be released in exchange for the freedom of living Israeli male hostages. In return, Israel has demands such as the demilitarization of Gaza. The Axios report comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an interview with Channel 14 last Sunday that he is prepared for a temporary withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from the Gaza Strip in exchange for a 'partial agreement' under which some hostages would be returned. However, he stated a day later that Israel's position has not changed and remains committed to the U.S. proposal. An Arab official claimed on Tuesday in an interview with the Times of Israel that Netanyahu's remarks confirm Hamas's concerns that Israel only wants to implement the first phase of the U.S. proposal and will find a way to resume hostilities afterward. The Association of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons is set to hold its weekly gathering in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, continuing to press the Netanyahu government to accept Joe Biden's proposal from June 1. Alongside this gathering, Netanyahu's opponents will also hold a protest demanding the resignation of the government and early elections. At the Saturday night gathering, Nova Argamani, a hostage rescued from Hamas, along with family members of other hostages still held by Hamas, will speak. During the terrorist attack on October 7 last year by Hamas against Israel, over 1,200 Israeli citizens, including women, children, and the elderly, were massacred, and more than 250 others were taken hostage. Nearly nine months after this terrorist attack, a total of 109 hostages have been freed from Hamas captivity, and according to Israeli estimates, 116 other hostages are still in Gaza, of whom 42 have lost their lives. Meanwhile, seven hostages have been rescued by the Israeli army, and the bodies of 19 other hostages have been identified and returned to Israel. Additionally, Hamas still holds two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015. The bodies of two Israeli soldiers killed in the summer of 2014 are also in Hamas's possession. The Hamas group is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Japan, and several other countries around the world. Reuters: The U.S. has delivered over ten thousand highly destructive bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles to Israel. Europe has sanctioned several individuals and entities for financing Hamas; a member of the Quds Force is among those sanctioned. Concerns are rising over 'escalating tensions in the region'; Netanyahu accused the Islamic Republic of attempting to 'dominate the Middle East.' Israeli forces are operating in the city of Gaza: civilians are to move south. At least 24 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The sister of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior member of Hamas, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza. Netanyahu: We agree to a 'pause' in the war for the release of hostages, but Hamas must be destroyed. Netanyahu reiterated criticism of the U.S., claiming that 'disagreements' over the supply of weapons to Israel will soon be resolved.