Blinken tells Hamas to accept truce deal as Israel PM warns of Rafah offensive

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00:00With a deal on the table, one of Israel and Hamas' highest priorities

00:04remains the recovery of hostages and prisoners held by either side.

00:10According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel's military would be prepared to put down its

00:14weapons for 10 weeks if Hamas agrees to free 20 Israeli hostages.

00:19The Times of Israel puts this number at 33.

00:23In exchange, Israeli television Channel 12 states it would release 900 Palestinian prisoners,

00:29which would amount to 27 to 45 prisoners per Israeli hostage.

00:34Officials are reportedly expecting a response from Hamas by Wednesday night,

00:38and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been meeting with regional leaders

00:42to press Hamas to accept the proposal.

00:45But the group has so far made it clear it would only accept a deal based on a permanent ceasefire,

00:50as well as the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

00:54Hamas also wants all displaced people to be able to return to their homes across the Strip,

01:00including the one million people currently sheltering in Rafa.

01:06But Benjamin Netanyahu has made one matter clear.

01:09Ceasefire or not,

01:10the Israeli Prime Minister plans to destroy Hamas' battalions in the southern city.

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