Israel said to drop demand that 40 hostages be freed after assessing some died

Hamas offered 40-day ceasefire: UK foreign secretary

Israel said to drop demand that 40 hostages be freed after assessing some died .new Israeli proposal for a possible hostage deal with Hamas includes a willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza after an initial release of hostages on humanitarian grounds, two Israeli officials told Axios.

Palestinians gather on a beach as they collect aid airdropped by an airplane, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas has been offered a 40-day ceasefire and the release of “potentially thousands” of Palestinian prisoners in return for freeing Israeli hostages, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on April 29.
The Palestinian militant group has been given “a very generous offer of sustained 40 days ceasefire, the release of potentially thousands of Palestinian prisoners, in return for the release of these hostages”, Mr Cameron told a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh.

Why it matters: It is the first time since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas that Israeli leadershave suggested they are open to discussing an end to the war in Gaza as part of a hostage deal.
Ending the war has been central to Hamas’ proposals during hostage deal negotiations .