JC Israel Briefing Day 602: Hamas set to scupper new Israel-approved ceasefire deal

Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently given the green light in principle to a new US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal — but Israel’s Channel 12 reported Hamas is expected to scupper the agreement today.

Netanyahu told hostage families he supports the outline advanced by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Channel 12 reported that he had discussed it seriously with them and called it “relevant to you.” A senior Hamas official told the BBC the group intends to reject the proposal, saying it fails to meet core demands — chief among them, a full and final end to the war.

The proposal in brief:

A 60-day ceasefire, guaranteed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies — split across day one and day seven.

In return, Israel release 125 Palestinians serving life sentences, 1,111 others detained after October 7, and 180 Palestinian bodies. All exchanges would be silent, with no ceremonies.

Israel would stop its offensive operations immediately. Military flights over Gaza would pause for 10 hours a day, extended to 12 on exchange days.

IDF forces would pull back from northern Gaza and the Netzarim corridor on day one, and from parts of the south on day seven. Pullbacks would follow agreed maps linked to humanitarian aid routes.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would begin as soon as the truce starts, covering remaining hostages, prisoner deals, troop withdrawals, Gaza governance, and future security arrangements.

The US, Egypt, and Qatar would act as guarantors. Envoy Steve Witkoff would lead regional talks. President Trump would personally announce the deal and back efforts for a final agreement.

However Hamas official Bassem Naim said the proposal “does not respond to any of our people’s demands,” though he confirmed the group is still reviewing it.

On the ground in Gaza, troops destroyed a Hamas tunnel in the south and killed members of a terror cell trying to emerge. The tunnel was lined with explosives, extended for hundreds of meters and had multiple exits. Combat operations continue across the Strip.

Evacuation flyers were again dropped in northern zones. Hamas is claiming that the latest Israeli airstrikes killed 62 people and injured 184. Civil defence teams said 23 people died in a single strike on a house near Al-Bureij.

Elsewhere, Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that police must allow an anti-war protest in Acre to proceed. Police had banned the gathering over posters showing Palestinian children killed in Gaza. ACRI and Standing Together filed an urgent petition and won. The silent protest will now go ahead.

And Houthi terrorists fired a ballistic missile from Yemen at Israel last night. It was intercepted by air defences, but sirens sent millions into shelters across central Israel, Jerusalem, and parts of the West Bank. The Israel State Cup final in Tel Aviv was halted mid-game. A nearby concert by Aviv Geffen continued despite alarms, prompting a military review.

Finally, Israel has approved 22 new settlements in the West Bank. The Defence Ministry said the decision aims to strengthen long-term control, block Palestinian statehood, and legalise unauthorised outposts. Among the new communities are Homesh and Sa-Nur, both evacuated in 2005. Four new settlements will rise near the Jordanian border. The ministry hailed the move as “a step that will shape the future of settlement for years to come”.

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