Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid stated on Tuesday that Hamas’s response to the mediators’ proposal for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip includes 98 percent of what the US Middle East envoy Steve Whitcoff suggested. Lapid criticized the Israeli government’s lack of communication with the mediators following Hamas’s response. He noted that a senior representative of one of the mediating countries informed him that the deal could be implemented after Hamas’s positive reply. Lapid added, “The mediators do not understand why Israel has not responded to them regarding the proposal.” The proposal includes releasing 10 live prisoners and 18 bodies in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and negotiations to end the war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignored the mediators’ wait for Tel Aviv’s response and insists on reoccupying Gaza, adding new conditions such as disarming Palestinian factions.

Since October 7, 2023, with US support, Israel has been committing what is described as genocide in Gaza, causing over 62,744 Palestinian deaths and injuring 158,259, mostly women and children, alongside thousands missing and hundreds of thousands displaced.