Good evening I'm William Brangam. I'm the Navaz and Jeff Bennett are away.

On the news hour tonight, Hamas and Israel trade ceasefire claims as Israel launches a targeted operation in parts of

Rafa and demands tens of thousands leave the crowded city. Then new witnesses

in Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York detail the payments at the very heart of the case.

And basketball star Brittany Griner opens up about her arrest and imprisonment in Russia.

It was really hard not being able to play, not knowing what was to come if I would ever

pick up a basketball professionally again.

It was devastating to me to think about. It is a delicate and momentous moment in the Middle East. The Israeli military

tonight says it has launched a new operation into

parts of Rafa in southern Gaza. At the same time, the Israeli government says

it's continuing negotiations to reach a ceasefire in its war on Hamas in exchange for the release of

Israeli hostages. It has been a day with fast-moving competing headlines and

thankfully Nick Schifrin is here to break it all down for us.

So Nick, what is the latest on the hostage negotiations?

The headline tonight, William, is that negotiations continue, but what got us here is not a straight line.

Late last week, U.S. Egyptian and cut three mediators offered Hamas what the U.S.

called a quote, extraordinarily generous proposal approved by Israel.

That would be a period of calm for 40 days.

Hamas would release 33 hostages, the female, the elderly, and the infirm.

Israel would lease some 700 Palestinian detainees, and after those releases, Gazans

would have freedom of movement within Gaza, and the two sides would discuss a permanent

ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from Gaza.

...