but it is interesting what gershon baskin said, that goes to the heart of the matter, is it possiblesomething from this proposal? the hamas counteroffer is a three phase one, over 135 days. the first phase, which would include a temporary pause of around 45 days would release the most vulnerable of the hostages, women, children, the elderly, the ones of which there is greatest concern about, there is concern about all, but first there was an exchange for some prisoners, but then some desperately needed humanitarian aid. we will see what kind of a tone antony blinken adopts. this is all there is right now. �* , . adopts. this is all there is right now. ~ , ., ., adopts. this is all there is right now. ~ ., ., now. and it is all about tone, reall , now. and it is all about tone, really. isn't _ now. and it is all about tone, really, isn't it? _ now. and it is all about tone, really, isn't it? because - now. and it is all about tone, really, isn't it? because if. now. and it is all about tone, | really, isn't it? because if you heard the tone for mr netanyahu, there was no in conciliato

. >> joining us now from jerusalem, an official negotiator, gershon baskin.e appreciate you sharing your expertise. those sound like two very different statements. is there somewhere in the middle of the two statements where you see a possible path forward? >> netanyahu pretty much closed the door on negotiations, but there's a little crack, and i think that secretary blinken was relating to the little crack in the door. we know that the deputy traveled from do ha to cairo today to continue talks with the egyptian intelligence on a possible deal. if there is a possibility of separating phase one of the three phases that was proposed originally in paris and then picked up by hamas to separate to enable the release of civilian hostages in exchange for a reasonable number of palestinian prisoners, not with those with blood on their hands as the israelis call them, there could be a deal that would engage also with a 45-day cease fire, which i think everyone needs right now. everyone needs a cooling off, an opportunity to re-think the future plans. both the israel

. >> nic robertson, cnn, >> tel aviv, israel to jerusalem now, and gershon baskin is a former hostage negotiator. he joins us now live, i guess you being with us, we appreciate your time. >> thank you >> realistically, from your experience from what you know, how close is a deal between israel and hamas for the hostages and for a ceasefire you know. these things are completely unpredictable because it can be sudden change in position of one of the signs that allows it to reach an agreement. in the case of the israeli soldier gilad shalit. he was held in captivity for five years and four months. there was a proposal on the table six months after he was abducted, but it took the five years before the parties were willing to agree to it. we don't have five years now. we have a matter of days, perhaps weeks before there is israeli ground offensive in the rafah area where there are 1.5 million palestinians palkin it'll, be catastrophic and all efforts need to be done in order to avoid that attack and to achieve a ceasefire. but the parties seem reluctant to make an agreement is hamas didn'

well, let's find out now because i'm joined by gershon baskin. he was a hostage negotiator. oining us, gershon. so the british parliament now has also done its bit virtue signalled there should be a ceasefire . add to should be a ceasefire. add to the united nations, add to the red cross. add to south africa. the big question is gershon, will israel even care ? will israel even care? >> i think that in general, israel cares about public opinion, but israel wants to see fair public opinion. israel if israel is being called to on a halt its fire in the gaza strip , halt its fire in the gaza strip, it wants to know that the world is also demanding that hamas release all the israeli hostages. 134 people still being held by hamas , women, children, held by hamas, women, children, elderly people , uh, soldiers elderly people, uh, soldiers taken from their homes from a music festival . i think it's music festival. i think it's also important to note that the world should be concerned that the gaza strip should not be ruled by hamas anymore . hamas ruled by hamas anymore. hamas cross

. >> reporter: gershon baskin is a israeli hostage.srael hits hamas, the stronger hamas will grow. >> reporter: the stated aim of eliminating hamas -- >> the only way you feed an idea and an ideology is by providing a better idea and a better ideology. >> reporter: baskin points out that netanyahu's biggest crime is convincing israelis they could occupy another people for decades and still have peace. >> you can't have it all. we got to share this place. >> reporter: so where does this all end, all this killing, all this suffering? >> translator: the killing and the suffering ends when the israelis walk out offer land. but if they decide to stay, we shall continue to fight. and if i die, somebody else will take my place. >> reporter: asked the same question, how it all ends, baskin said "when young palestinians no longer believe their only option is to die for palestine." >> that will happen when palestine becomes real for them. it's about time that the united states, for example, recognizes the state of palestine. they deserve to live

we're told by gershon baskin, i have to site his name, political activist with very good sources ande with rafah now in particular is that the idf, the israeli army, suspects there are tunnels very close to and the egyptians say we have gone six kilometres down and there are not and the israelis are sceptical of that. the issue for israel now is really a discussion with egypt. as you say, 1.7 million, more than half of an incredibly suffering gazan palestinian population is there. and egypt doesn't want a huge flow on its side. ., , ., ., , its side. there are so many competing _ its side. there are so many competing practice - its side. there are so many competing practice but - its side. there are so many competing practice but a i its side. there are so many| competing practice but a lot its side. there are so many . competing practice but a lot of people in this country look on with horror not sure what you think. what are your readers the making of what is happening? they are your readers the making of what is happening?— is happening? they 'ust wanted to sto - , the is happenin