At least five hostages held by Hamas, including New Jersey native Edan Alexander, could be freed under new cease-fire proposals, officials said Saturday as tens of thousands of protestors flooded Israeli streets demanding the release of all captives.
The terror group agreed to release the five hostages, who were kidnapped in its Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, in exchange for a 50-day cease-fire over the Eid al-Fitr holiday and continuing through Passover, officials told Israeli and Arab news outlets Saturday.
Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan, begins on Saturday night and ends Wednesday.
The proposal, put forward by Egypt after continued pressure from the US over the impasse, also calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners and reentry of aid into Gaza, the Times of Israel reported.
Israel responded with its own counteroffer, according to the outlet.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a series of consultations yesterday, following a proposal received from the mediators,” a statement from his office said Saturday.
“In recent hours, Israel transferred its counter proposal to the mediators, in full coordination with the United States,” it continued.
The details of the counteroffer were unclear but the Israel Hayom newspaper reports Tel Aviv is insisting on the terms of a deal brokered by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which calls for 10 to 12 hostages to be released alive.
Hamas previously rejected that proposal.
The US has lobbied Egypt and Qatar to pressure Hamas in recent days to release hostages, which would restore the cease-fire that Israel ended in mid-March and buy time for new negotiations, Axios reported.
The Egyptian proposal also comes days after reports that Qatar presented Hamas with a new US plan to bring about a cease-fire in Gaza through the release of 21-year-old Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage.
Hamas still holds 59 captives, 24 of whom are believed to still be alive. Alexander is the only living American hostage.
The terror group likely agreed to the Egyptian proposal to rein in growing anti-Hamas protests in Gaza this week, Israel’s state-run Kan media outlet reported.
Yet Hamas, has continued tormenting hostage victims and their families, releasing a video Saturday showing Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot, 36, begging to be released and reunited with his wife and son ahead of the boy’s fifth birthday.
Five days earlier, Hamas released another video of a distressed and gaunt Bohbot alongside fellow hostage Yosef-Haim Ohana, 24.
“How much longer can Elkana survive in the hell of Gaza?” his family said in a statement after the release of the second video. “We are pleading with the people of Israel — listen to Elkana’s cry. Do not forget him.”
“This is the second sign of life we have received this week,” the family continued. “How many more will there be? Signs of life must not become final memories.”
Netanyahu has refused to bring an end to the war until Hamas releases all hostages and relinquishes power.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested in favor of a hostage deal in cities across the country Saturday night, and in opposition of the Israeli government, including moves by Netanyahu to overhaul the judiciary, according to reports.
One of the demonstrations was hosted by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which is pushing for all hostages to be released at once in exchange for a permanent end to the war.
Sixty-nine percent of Israelis support ending the war in exchange for a deal that releases all remaining hostages in Gaza, a poll released Friday found.
With Post wires
