Revised U.S. Proposal Offers 60-Day Ceasefire in Gaza for Hostage Deal Without Demanding Israeli Withdrawal
The updated plan by U.S. envoy Steve Wietcov proposes releasing nine Israeli hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for a 60-day truce, possibly leading to a longer-term ceasefire.
Watan-Israeli sources reported Thursday that the revised proposal by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Wietcov includes the release of nine live Israeli hostages and 18 bodies in two phases, in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
According to Haaretz, an Israeli official familiar with the details stated that the proposal does not require Israel to end its military campaign or withdraw from Gaza. However, its wording allows Hamas to interpret it as a potential path toward a long-term ceasefire and a practical end to the war.
Wietcov, standing next to U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, said that the United States intends to offer a new ceasefire proposal. “I have a very good feeling that we’ll reach a temporary truce and a long-term solution,” he added.
U.S. Keeps Ceasefire Language Vague to Appease Both Sides
The official quoted by Haaretz said the U.S. administration deliberately kept the language about ending the war vague to make it acceptable to both parties. It remains unclear whether the revised proposal has been formally submitted to either side.
The paper also reported that Israel’s strategic affairs minister and chief negotiator Ron Dermer, and Mossad director David Barnea, discussed the hostage deal with Wietcov during recent talks about Iran’s nuclear program.
Separately, Israel’s public broadcaster “Kan Reshet Bet” cited unnamed U.S. officials expressing optimism that their proposal could lead to a signed ceasefire deal and the release of Israeli detainees within days—possibly by early next week. Well-informed sources indicated strong U.S. optimism regarding the new proposal’s acceptance.
The main sticking point, according to “Kan,” relates to American guarantees to Hamas. The proposal reportedly states that the ceasefire would continue even if no agreement on ending the war is reached—provided certain conditions are met.
An Israeli source said the Wietcov plan resembles the previous one Israel had approved, with a change in the order of hostage release. According to that source, nine hostages would be released in two batches during the first week, after which the 60-day truce would begin. During this period, negotiations would continue to end the war. If no deal is reached by the end of the truce, it would likely be extended in return for the release of additional hostages.
Additional Details:
The Hebrew-language site Ynet reported that the new plan—calling for a 60-day ceasefire—was passed to relevant parties last night. Unlike the previous Israeli-approved version, it calls for one fewer live hostage to be released.
The proposed deal also includes the renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza through the UN and international organizations. In return, Israel would release Palestinian prisoners following the same process as previous phases.
The Israeli army would retreat to positions it held before launching “Operation Daring Sword” on March 17, 2025. This means Israel would maintain control of the Salah al-Din (Philadelphi) corridor but withdraw from the Murag axis, dubbed “Philadelphi 2” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Although Israel has received the updated proposal, it has yet to issue an official position. However, estimates suggest it will likely not oppose it, given its similarities to Wietcov’s original plan, which proposed releasing 10 live hostages at once. If Israel agrees, final discussions are expected to take place in Doha, Qatar.
