Washington sends Burns to Cairo and is optimistic about the negotiations. The proposal, which was put forward for the first time during talks that took place in Paris, stipulates a temporary halt to the fighting and an exchange of prisoners between the two sides.
Hamas responded by accepting the proposal in principle, and demanded the liberation of prominent Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’ response to the proposal and pledged to deal a “deadly blow” to the movement.