What we know about discussions for a renewed Gaza ceasefire

Israel and Hamas both said during the weekend that the efforts for a cease-fire renewed in Gaza were underway, less than two weeks after the rupture of a temporary truce and the resumption of the air and land campaign of Israel against the militant group in the enclave.

Hamas said on Saturday that it had accepted a proposal for a new ceasefire, which would see hostages released from captivity in Gaza. Israel also said it had received a proposal via third-party mediators and responded with a counter-project in coordination with the United States.

“Military pressure works,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday in the start of his weekly meeting of the cabinet, adding that Israel “suddenly saw cracks” in Hamas’ position.

Since Israel has resumed attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18, more than 900 people were killed, the Enclave Ministry of Health announced on Saturday. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

None of the two parties has published the details of the proposal or counter-proposition, but an informed official of talks suggested that they have largely echoed the previous floating proposals in recent weeks. Although there was no indication that a breakthrough was imminent, public statements suggested that after weeks of unsuccessful negotiations, contacts on an agreement continued when the war continued.

On Sunday, Palestine Red Crescent Society said that it had recovered the bodies of eight emergency medical technicians, five members of civil defense staff and a United Nations employee in Rafah in southern Gaza. The medical organization said that it had lost contact with nine of its crew members more than a week ago after being directly dismissed by Israeli forces. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comments.