JC Israel Briefing Day 601: New 60-day ceasefire deal ‘on the precipice’

“If the corridors stay open, we close them,” the official said. The strike followed expanded Houthi drone launches toward Israeli airspace. The airport had only just reopened after the last Israeli attacks.

Israel reached 600 days since the October 7, 2023 massacre and abductions with the one of largest hostage protests since the war began. Thousands marched in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. Protest leaders demanded a full hostage release deal.

“Every day you delay is on you,” shouted a father holding a photo of his son. “Bring them home now.” Organisers described the demonstration as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Among the crowd were relatives of hostages shown in the latest video released by Hamas, including Noa Argamani and Yotam Haim. New images of rescued hostage Andrey Kozlov were also distributed. He had been held with three others killed in a failed IDF operation earlier this month.

The White House believes a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal may be close. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday he had “very good feelings” about a new term sheet being reviewed by President Trump. “We’re on the precipice,” he said from the Oval Office.

The proposal, shaped in Washington and Doha, would include a 60-day truce, staged hostage release, and follow-on talks. Hamas claimed to have accepted a broader framework but Israel and U.S. officials said that statement “misrepresented the offer and misled the public.” Witkoff said Hamas should accept the version “already on the table.”

A source familiar with talks described Hamas as “under pressure like never before.” The Israeli cabinet remains split, though. “I will not allow a partial deal,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar disagreed: “This is the will of the absolute majority.”

Elsewhere, the world’s top nuclear watchdog has said that “the jury is still out” on US–Iran nuclear negotiations. Rafael Grossi, head of the UN agency responsible, confirmed that a deputy from its safeguarding arm was in Tehran verifying enrichment levels.

“They tell me that a nuclear weapon is un-Islamic,” Grossi said. “I tell them: ‘You have to show it. You have to be verified in this’.” Talks have spanned five rounds in Oman and Italy. A sixth date has not yet been set.

Meanwhile, tensions escalated at the Egypt–Israel border after Israeli forces moved further into Rafah. Egyptian officials accused Israel of violating coordination agreements. A brief exchange of fire was reported.

Aid agencies warned the crossing could be closed if Egypt withdraws from cooperation. “This isn’t a security dispute — it’s about who runs the gateway,” said one Western official. UN agencies said the aid corridor risks collapse. Egyptian intelligence is holding talks with Israeli counterparts under urgent pressure.

Finally, Charedi leaders have warned of intense conflict in Israeli society if the state enforces military conscription on yeshiva students. The warning, reported in Haaretz, came ahead of a Supreme Court deadline on whether the government must begin drafting tens of thousands of Charedi men.

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