FLASH
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The United States has presented a new proposal that would secure the release of a handful of live hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a one-month extension of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, a source familiar with the negotiations said.
The exact number of live and dead hostages to be released by Hamas during the extended ceasefire, as well as the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel, remained subject to negotiations, the source said.
Under the US proposal, which was presented this week in Qatar by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Israel would also lift its humanitarian aid blockade of Gaza, which has continued for nearly two weeks.
The ceasefire extension will last until the end of Passover, extending the pause in fighting and renewing the entry of humanitarian aid during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
When asked about the proposal, a State Department spokesman said they would not comment on ongoing negotiations. Asked for comment on reports of progress in the negotiations, Hamas spokesman Basem Naim said, "Things are at a standstill." The Israeli prime minister's office did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
The latest US proposal marked a reduction from the previous proposal for the number of hostages that would be released by Hamas over the same period of time, prompting immediate concern from the families of the hostages. Of the 59 hostages still being held in Gaza, fewer than half are believed to be still alive.
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