The Palestinian independence group Hamas has presented a new ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip. According to a copy of the cease-fire proposal seen by Reuters, it includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners.

A draft of the Hamas cease-fire proposal has already been sent to Israel's wartime cabinet and to the three mediators in the war — Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

In the new proposal, Hamas says that if Israel's war cabinet declares a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and releases between 700 and 1,000 Palestinians held in various Israeli prisons, women, children, the elderly and the sick will be released from among their hostages.

It has also been said that if this ceasefire is successful, then both sides will start negotiating a permanent ceasefire.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Thursday that Hamas based the proposal on "unrealistic" demands.

An update on the matter will be handed over to the country's wartime cabinet and enhanced security cabinet on Friday, they said.

Officials from Qatar and Egypt, the two countries that are mediating on the proposal made by Hamas, declined to comment. But they told Reuters that Hamas and Israel's wartime cabinet were trying to minimize any disagreements between the two sides and that efforts would continue.

Earlier, the mediator sent a draft of a ceasefire proposal to Hamas in mid-February. The proposal called for a 40-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages by Hamas. And instead of releasing each hostage, Israel will release 10 Palestinians from prison.

The two sides also held a meeting in Ankara, the capital of Egypt, regarding this proposal. However, the meeting ended without any results.