The sources said the Israeli prime minister rejected the deal outright in negotiations soon after Hamas militants staged an unprecedented incursion into Israeli territory on 7 October, killing an estimated 1,400 people.
Negotiations resumed after the launch of the Israeli ground offensive on 27 October, but the same sources said Netanyahu had continued to take a tough line on proposals involving ceasefires of different durations in exchange for a varying number of hostages.
Others indicated that negotiations which took place prior to the ground invasion involved a far larger number of hostages, with Hamas proposing the release of dozens of foreign nationals captive in Gaza.
The Israeli prime minister’s office was asked to comment on the hostage negotiations but had not given a response by Thursday evening.
An estimated 240 people were taken hostage after fighters from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups based in Gaza, as well as civilians, crossed the reinforced border fence separating the territory from Israeli towns and kibbutzim.
Public anger and demands that Israel prioritise hostage negotiations have increased, with families of those held in Gaza rallying outside Netanyahu’s residence earlier this week.
According to three sources familiar with the talks, the original deal on the table involved freeing children, women and elderly and sick people in exchange for a five-day ceasefire, but the Israeli government turned this down and demonstrated its rejection with the launch of the ground offensive.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Reeves to confirm debt rule change to release £50bn for infrastructure
Rachel Reeves will announce at the International Monetary Fund a plan to change Britain's debt rules and open the door for the government to spend up to £50bn extra on infrastructure projects.
Labour donor 'breached rules over register of interests'
The Labour donor and strategist Waheed Alli has been found to have breached House of Lords rules over his declarations of interest, including in an offshore firm based in the British Virgin Islands.
Three people die at care home in suspected gas poisoning
Three people have been found dead at a care home in Dorset and seven more taken to hospital in a suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mass dementia trials launched as Nice rejects second drug
Tens of thousands of dementia patients are to be enrolled in clinical trials designed to dramatically speed up the hunt for a cure, scientists have announced, as a second treatment was rejected for use on the NHS.
Time is right for pay-per-mile charging, Blair's thinktank says
A pay-per-mile road pricing system should be brought in now, according to Tony Blair's thinktank, which has urged the chancellor to reform motoring taxes.
The Secrets of Moominvalley: author's 'lost' notes lift lid on mystery creatures
They are the cult characters of 20thcentury children's literature whose books have sold 30m copies, but despite their worldwide popularity the Moomins remain hard to define.
Firearms officers on trial to be granted anonymity
The identities of armed police officers charged after opening fire at suspects are likely to stay secret in future unless they are convicted, the home secretary has announced.
The accused Some of the 50 men on trial alongside Dominique Pelicot
The 50 men accused of rape and assault alongside Dominique Pelicot are aged between 26 and 74.
Human brains can process some sentences within blink of an eye
Whether it is headlines or WhatsApp messages, humans are inundated with short pieces of text. Now researchers say they have unpicked how we get their gist in one glance.
Labour officials did nothing wrong by helping Harris, says Tory ex-minister
Labour did nothing wrong when party officials campaigned for Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, a former Conservative minister said yesterday after Downing Street faced fury from Donald Trump over the move.
