Hamas has proposed a new three-stage ceasefire deal that would last 135 days, leading to the release of all remaining Israeli hostages and an end to the war in Gaza.

According to a draft document seen by Reuters, the Hamas proposal envisions three phases lasting 45 days each.

All Israeli women hostages, males under 19, the elderly and sick would be released during the first stage in exchange for the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails.

Remaining male hostages would be released during the second phase, and remains exchanged in the third phase. By the end of the third phase, Hamas would expect the sides to have reached agreement on an end to the war.

The Hamas plan came in response to a plan put forward last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators and backed by the United States and Israel.

The truce would also increase the flow of food and other aid to Gaza’s desperate civilians, who are facing hunger and dire shortages of basic supplies.

Follow the latest updates