Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal in Gaza that includes a 60-day cessation of fighting and the exchange of half of the 20 or so living Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, The Guardian reported.

This proposal is based on negotiations between Hamas, Egyptian and Qatari officials in Cairo in recent days. According to health authorities in Gaza, the 22-month war has claimed 62 000 Palestinian lives.

The proposal comes after mass protests in Israel on Sunday calling for a deal to release the hostages. The demonstrators criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to free them. Netanyahu described the protests as support for Hamas' position in the negotiations, prompting a sharp reaction. Protest organisers have called for further demonstrations this Sunday, as reported by The Guardian.

The proposed ceasefire includes a 60-day pause in fighting, during which Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged for half of the Israeli hostages. The move could lead to a comprehensive agreement to end the nearly two-year war. Egypt, long a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, has played a central role in the talks.

The proposal was presented to Israel on Monday, but Netanyahu insists on the full release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarisation of Gaza before ending the war.

According to Arab mediators, the proposal meets earlier Israeli objections and builds on the US framework. Yet the situation in Israel remains politically tense, with growing social divisions. Senior security officials have warned Netanyahu that a new offensive on Gaza could endanger the lives of hostages, fueling mass protests attended by hundreds of thousands on Sunday.

Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City has raised concerns at home and abroad, particularly over the growing famine in Gaza, for which Israel is blamed, and accusations of genocide. International pressure on Israel is mounting, while negotiations continue in Egypt with the Qatari prime minister and representatives of Palestinian factions.

Český prezident Petr Pavel plans to meet with Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Thursday to discuss the Czech government's position on the current situation in the Gaza Strip. In an interview on social media, the president said that although he stands behind Israel and recognises its right to self-defence, he disagrees with some of the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he described as unsustainable and problematic in the long term. In this respect, he sees differences in the Czech Government's approach to this issue.

Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges, has also faced criticism for his past actions. Opposition leader Yair Golan has branded him a liar who failed to take steps to weaken Hamas before the October 7, 2023 attack and is now prolonging the war for political reasons.

Demonstrators recalled the tragedy of hostages such as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli citizen killed last October.

According to The Guardian, about 50 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom about 20 are alive. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians are fleeing eastern Gaza City because of the threat of an Israeli offensive that could displace up to a million people. The protests and negotiations show growing Israeli fatigue with the war and frustration with the unresolved hostage situation.

The Guardian/gnews.cz