by Dave Decamp

Israel has refused to commit to negotiations on a permanent truce

Hamas is ready to release all remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza at once in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, The Times of Israel reported on Thursday, citing a senior Palestinian official.

The report said that Israel has had a “longstanding rejection” of this kind of deal, and that’s why Hamas recently proposed it could release five hostages to renew a temporary ceasefire. However, Hamas also wanted a guarantee that Israel would commit to entering negotiations on reaching a permanent truce, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to do.

The senior Palestinian official speaking to the Times said that after the Israeli counterproposal, negotiations are at a “standstill.”

“The number of hostages is not the issue. If Israel demonstrates its intention to reach a permanent ceasefire, [Hamas is] prepared to release all of the hostages,” the Palestinian official said. “Israel only wants a partial agreement so that it can continue fighting. It wants [Hamas] to give up all the hostages without entering the second phase.”