Israel Seeks Changes in Gaza Truce Plan Amid Negotiations for Hostage Release

Israel is requesting changes to the Gaza truce plan, complicating the finalization of a deal. The demands include vetting returning Palestinians and retaining control of Gaza's border, which Hamas and Egypt have rejected. The U.S. continues to mediate, pushing for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

Israel is requesting modifications to the Gaza truce plan, complicating efforts to reach a final agreement to end the nine-month-long conflict that has ravaged the region, according to multiple sources.

Sources close to the matter revealed that Israel wants to screen displaced Palestinians as they return to the enclave's north when a ceasefire begins, reversing an earlier agreement that allowed unhindered return. This new demand is aimed at preventing potential support for entrenched Hamas fighters.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas and Egypt have rejected Israel's new demands, adding further challenges to reaching a final deal. An Israeli demand to maintain control of Gaza's border with Egypt has also been dismissed by Cairo.