"Axios": Israel Offers Hamas to Stop Fighting for 7 Days As Part of Prisoner Exchange Deal

Axios, a US news website, said that Israel is offering to stop the fighting in Gaza for at least one week as part of a new deal to force Hamas to release more than thirty hostages it is still holding in Gaza.

The website quoted two Israeli officials and “another informed source as saying ” that this proposal is the first presented by Israel since the collapse of the agreement last month that led to a seven-day ceasefire and the release of more than 100 hostages.

Israeli officials say the proposal shows that Israel is determined to relaunch serious negotiations for the release of more hostages, even as Hamas says it will not resume negotiations as long as fighting continues.

The Israeli proposal revolves around how to relaunch talks on a new deal to secure the release of a group of about 40 hostages.

The group will include the remaining women held by Hamas, men over the age of 60, and other hostages who are sick or seriously injured and in need of urgent medical care.