The recent discovery of the bodies of six hostages reportedly “increased the sense of urgency” among the US President’s top aides
US President Joe Biden is considering presenting Israel and Hamas a final proposal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza later this week, according to an Axios report. On Saturday, Israeli Defense Forces discovered the bodies of six people who had been taken captive by the Palestinian militant movement.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told families of US captives still held in Gaza that Biden will meet with his national security team on Monday to determine the strategy for the final deal, Axios wrote, citing its sources.
One of the bodies discovered in Gaza was that of a US citizen, and the finding “increased the sense of urgency among Biden’s top aides to push for an agreement as soon as possible,” the outlet wrote on Monday.
Israel and Hamas will reportedly have a week to respond to the US offer. The deal is expected to include a proposal for the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land that separates Gaza from Egypt. According to Axios, officials in Washington hope that Hamas and Egypt could accept the proposal. No other details have been provided.
The corridor became the main sticking point in the negotiations, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that the country’s forces stay deployed there during the ceasefire. Hamas and Egypt rejected the idea.
Hostilities between Israel and Hamas flared up when the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,100 people and taking more than 200 others hostage. Some were later released through prisoner swaps or rescued by the Israeli army. According to Israel, Hamas is still holding 103 people captive in Gaza.
READ MORE: Protests sweep Israel after hostage deaths (VIDEOS)
The massive military retaliation by Israel has claimed roughly 40,700 lives in the enclave, according to Palestinian health officials.
