section_path: Negotiation process/April 2024: Initial discussions
section_name: April 2024: Initial discussions
paragraph_text: April 2024: Initial discussions
  
  In early April, talks appeared to have been stalled on at least two issues. Hamas insisted it will only release the hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, but Israel said it would only agree to a temporary one. Palestinians also demanded that Gazans be allowed to return to their homes in Gaza, which Israel rejected. On 8 April 2024, Central Intelligence Agency director William J. Burns presented a proposal to release forty hostages in exchange for a six-week ceasefire to Mossad director David Barnea, Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and General Intelligence Service director Abbas Kamel. Hamas rejected the proposal for temporary truce, and once again demanded a permanent ceasefire. On 15 April, a senior US Congressman Steny Hoyer threatened that the US "will reevaluate its relationship with Qatar" if it doesn't pressure Hamas to release the hostages. Qatar responded by saying it will reevalutate its role as a mediator. On 18 April, CIA Director Burns blamed Hamas for lack of a deal, pointing out that Gazan civilians would get some humanitarian relief under the current proposal. On 26 April, Hamas repeated that it was "serious" about a deal, but only if it included a permanent ceasefire.
  
  On 27 April, Hamas received an Israeli ceasefire proposal. According to Axios, the agreement included "a willingness to discuss" a "sustainable calm" in Gaza after an initial hostage release. Yet on 30 April, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said "The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question." Netanyahu promised to invade Rafah "with or without a deal". Two days later, Israel appeared willing to accept an initial release of thirty-three hostages as U.S. president Joe Biden reiterated urges for Hamas's support of Israel's proposal to Egypt and Qatar.
  
  U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken appeared in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to garner support for a ceasefire from the Gulf Cooperation Council 's members. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to invade Rafah regardless of a ceasefire. Blinken said Israel's offer was "extraordinarily generous" and blamed Hamas for not accepting it. Hamas responded that "Even the Israeli negotiating team admitted Netanyahu was the one who was hindering reaching an agreement". On 1 May, Hamas rejected the Israeli proposal, but promised to make a counter-proposal, while also saying that Israel's Rafah invasion could put the talks in jeopardy. On Telegram, Hamas chief political leader Ismail Haniyeh said on 2 May the organization viewed the proposal with "positive spirit" and planned to send a delegate to Egypt. According to a text message obtained by The New York Times, former Hamas military leader Husam Badran wrote two days later the organization's representatives approached Israel's proposal with "great positivity". Discussions stalled by 5 May in a purported "crisis" over the duration of a ceasefire; Hamas requested a permanent ceasefire, while Netanyahu was open to only a temporary ceasefire.