Middle East: Hamas, positive response to Egyptian proposal on resumption of truce

Milan, 24th Mar. (LaPresse) – Hamas has ‘responded positively’ to the new proposal presented by Egypt to try to restart the truce with Israel. An Egyptian official explained that the organisation would release five hostages alive, including an Israeli-American citizen, in exchange for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and a break in the fighting lasting several weeks. Israel would also release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. A Hamas official said that the group had ‘responded positively’ to the proposal, without providing further details.