section_path: Responses/Initial proposal
section_name: Initial proposal
paragraph_text: Initial proposal
  
  In Israel, the families of Israeli captives held by Hamas called on the US to pressure Netanyahu to reach a hostage release deal with Hamas. Protests broke out in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Protestors blocked the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, demanding the government reach a deal to secure the release of Israeli captives. Minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir and minister of finance Bezalel Smotrich threatened to resign if Israel agreed to the war cabinet's proposal prior to the destruction of Hamas. Opposition leader Yair Lapid offered to support the government if the proposal was signed. Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv the following day to express support of the deal and criticism towards Netanyahu. Shas, an ultra-orthodox Jewish party and Netanyahu's biggest coalition partner, said it would give its full support to the deal.
  
  After Hamas announced its acceptance of the Egypt-Qatar counterproposal in May 2024, crowds gathered to celebrate in Rafah, Gaza Strip. On the Palestinian side the proposal was supported by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. Ordinary Gazans expressed support for the proposal. According to Reuters, senior Hamas officials expressed skepticism that Israel was serious about reaching a deal.
  
  The proposal was co-signed by pro-Israel representatives Brad Schneider and Steny Hoyer and Israeli-critical senator Peter Welch and representative Greg Casar. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer supported the deal. The proposal was opposed by senator Lindsey Graham, arguing that defeating Hamas was non-negotiable. Representative Michael Waltz argued that Hamas would be strengthened by continued discussions with Israel. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene referred to the plan as "Hamas First". After the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, President Biden said that the assassination "doesn't help" the Gaza ceasefire talks.
  
  Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Hamas's acceptance of the Egyptian–Qatari proposal and hoped Israel will do the same. French president Emmanuel Macron urged Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas. UAE's Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan supported Egyptian-Qatari mediations and hoped the proposal would result in ending both the war and the suffering of Palestinians. The Israeli proposal was endorsed by French president Emmanuel Macron, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and diplomats from the United Kingdom and Germany.
  
  On 31 July 2024, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said that the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh indicates that Israel has no political will for a ceasefire. Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani asked "how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?"