Hamas decided not to respond to Israel’s counter -proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, an official told Reuters on Wednesday, confirming that it was committed to the mediators’ plan instead.

Israel said on March 29 that it has forwarded to the mediators a proposal in complete coordination with the US, after Hamas agreed to a proposal received from the mediators from Egypt and Qatar.

The mediators’ proposal was part of the January 17 ceasefire agreement, which will extend the truce for another 50 days.

Negotiations for a second phase of fire will have to be completed before the end of the 50 -day period, as stated in the copy.

The proposal included the liberation of the 21 -year -old Israeli military soldier, Were Alexanderoriginally from New Jersey, the first day after the announcement of the truce.

Hamas will also release four Israeli hostages, with a hostage released every 10 days in exchange for the release of 250 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and the release of 2,000 of those held after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.

The proposal also implies the interruption of Israeli military operations, opening the passages to allow humanitarian aid to enter and re -open the Netzarim corridor to allow the entry of cars from the south to the north and vice versa.

The Israeli army said on March 19th that its forces were re -controlled in the center of the Netzarim corridor, which divides the Gaza Strip.

The first phase of the truce between Israel and Hamas came into force on 19 January after 15 months of war and included interruption of conflict, liberation of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the liberation of certain Palestinian prisoners.

However, Israel said on March 19th that its forces were repeating land operations in the central and southern lane of Gaza. It also announced a large expansion of military operations in Gaza on Wednesday, saying that large areas of the enclave would be occupied and added to its seat belts, accompanied by large -scale population discharges.

The second phase of the three -phase agreement aims to focus on the agreements on the liberation of the rest of the hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas says that any proposals should allow the second phase to start, while Israel has been offered to extend the first phase of 42 days.

More than 50,000 Palestinians They were killed by the Israeli attack on Gaza, Palestinian officials said.

Israel began its attack after thousands of armed persons led by Hamas attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 as hostages, according to Israeli report.