In response to a proposal sent last week by the mediator countries Qatar and Egypt and supported by the US and Israel, Hamas has proposed a ceasefire plan in three phases, each lasting 45 days, which would provide for four and a half months of peace in Gaza during which all hostages would be released, Israel would withdraw its troops and an end to the war would be agreed, on Wednesday the 7th February, reports Reuters.
The first phase of the document, seen by Reuters, involves the exchange of all Israeli female hostages, men under the age of 19, the elderly and the sick for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from residential areas and the start of Gaza reconstruction work.
The second phase includes the exchange of the remaining Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. The final phase involves the exchange of remains. During a ceasefire, aid deliveries would increase in the Gaza Strip.
Negotiations to end the war are to be concluded by the end of the 135-day period.
US President Joe Biden has reacted reluctantly to the proposal, calling it “a bit far-fetched”. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said that there was “much work to be done” to achieve a permanent ceasefire, stressing the importance of a lasting peace.
Israel’s Channel 13 has quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that some of Hamas’ demands were unacceptable to Israel. Israel has indicated that it will not withdraw troops until Hamas is eliminated.
According to the official, the Israeli authorities are considering rejecting Gaza’s proposals or demanding alternative conditions.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who arrived in Israel overnight after meeting with the leaders of the mediator countries Qatar and Egypt, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today to discuss the proposal.
Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants killed 1 200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on the 7th of October. Gaza authorities claim that more than 27 000 Palestinians have already been killed in the Israeli offensive. For its part, Israel says it has killed 10 000 militants and lost 226 soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
Also read: Palestinians hope Blinken’s visit will lead to Gaza truce
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