Speculation that Israel has made a new ceasefire proposal, US Defense Secretary postpones visit to Middle East allies

On September 19, Israeli media reported that the country had proposed a new ceasefire with the Hamas Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement is approaching its first anniversary, but the prospects for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting remain unclear. (Source: Sky News)

According to Israel's Kan radio station, one of the contents of the proposal is for Hamas to release hostages in Gaza in exchange for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other members of the movement having a "safe exit" when leaving Gaza as well as in exchange for a ceasefire.

The proposal also includes the release of Palestinian prisoners and the establishment of a new governance system in Gaza, but provided no further details.

The Times of Israel quoted an Israeli official as saying that Gal Hirsch, the Israeli official in charge of the hostage rescue effort in the Gaza Strip, had forwarded the proposal to the US, which then forwarded it to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has not officially confirmed the above information. When asked about the new proposal, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer only said: "Anyone who wants to support our hostage rescue efforts should put pressure on Mr. Sinwar, not the Israeli Prime Minister ."

Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen TV channel quoted a senior Hamas official as saying that the movement has not received a new agreement proposal.

According to official Israeli figures, there are still 101 hostages being held in Gaza.

In another development on the same day, Reuters quoted a well-informed source as saying that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had postponed his visit to Israel scheduled for next week. The source did not give a specific reason for the postponement.

The decision was made amid escalating tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border following attacks that destroyed communication equipment by Hezbollah on September 17-18.

Hezbollah accused Israel of being behind the attacks, which killed 37 people and injured about 3,000, overwhelming hospitals in Lebanon.

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