In a proposal submitted to a Qatari mediator and seen by Al Jazeera, Hamas outlined plans for a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip, with the aim of ending the war after 124 days of shelling and ground incursions in the strip. It raised my expectations.
At least 27,585 people have been killed and 66,978 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. Thousands more were lost under the rubble and presumed dead. Concerns are growing over military encroachments on Rafah, the last remaining city in the region, which is home to 1.4 million displaced people.
The peace plan, which Hamas calls “reasonable and realistic,” comes in response to a proposal sent last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, who have been negotiating with Israel and the United States as part of a high-level diplomatic push to end the war. It was submitted.
In its plan, Hamas proposes a three-step cease-fire process to release hostages and prisoners on both sides. According to the plan, each phase will last 45 days.
Israel has not yet responded to Hamas' proposal, but “the details are being thoroughly evaluated,” the officials said. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli government officials have repeatedly said that Israeli forces will not be ordered to withdraw until Hamas is “annihilated.”
Hamas proposes:
First stage:
In the first 45 days, Hamas has proposed releasing all Israeli female prisoners the group took hostage on October 7. Male prisoners of war under the age of 19 who are not members of the Israeli army or conscript, the elderly, and the sick are eligible. will also be released. It is unclear how many of the more than 100 prisoners still known to be alive fit into these categories.
In return, Hamas is asking Israel to release 1,500 Palestinians, including all women, children and elderly people held in Israeli prisons. As of October 2023, approximately 5,200 Palestinians were imprisoned in Israel, including 33 children and 170 women.
Of the Palestinian prisoners to be released, 500 must be people currently serving life sentences or other long-term sentences.
Hamas is also calling for at least 500 humanitarian aid and fuel trucks to be allowed into Gaza each day. The government called for the provision of 60,000 temporary housing units and 200,000 tents, and that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be allowed to return freely to their homes without any barriers under the conditions of a mutual temporary ceasefire. It was stipulated that it must be done. Hamas does not specify where the funds for the housing and tents will come from.
The group also wants all crossings into the Gaza Strip to be open so that Palestinians in Gaza who need medical care can move freely from the Strip. At this point, talks could begin over the requirements for a “complete ceasefire,” the paper added.
Second stage:
The next phase, also scheduled to last 45 days, will see Hamas release all remaining Israeli male prisoners, in return for which Israeli forces will withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip.
Hamas now says it must allow further humanitarian aid to Gaza and begin rebuilding damaged infrastructure.
Talks must be agreed on the requirements for a “complete ceasefire” and a return to a “state of tranquility” before proceeding to the next step.
Third stage:
Finally, Hamas proposes that any bodies or remains be released at this stage, subject to proper identification processes by both sides.
The humanitarian measures agreed in phases one and two must also continue.
What else is included in the proposal?
Hamas says each phase of the ceasefire must be completed before the next phase can begin.
The group also says Israel must facilitate the complete reconstruction of destroyed homes, public buildings and other economic infrastructure in the Gaza Strip within three years.
Hamas also demands that Israeli settlers stop attacking Al-Aqsa Mosque and that the situation inside the mosque be returned to its pre-2002 state. It is unclear what situation Hamas is referring to. However, in 2002, during the second intifada, or “uprising” triggered by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit to al-Aqsa, the Israeli military cracked down on Palestinians under Operation Defensive Shield.
Hamas spokesman Mohamed Nazar told Al Jazeera that the organization would support Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Turkey and Russia as “guarantors” to ensure the exact implementation of the terms of the deal if it is approved. He said he hopes to play a role. But the group added that it had no intention of negotiating the terms of the proposal.
“None of these details can be compromised,” Nazar says. “The Israeli killing machine must be stopped. What we want to see is [the] Israeli occupation forces completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Our response is realistic and our demands are reasonable.
“Once [the plan] Once we start, we can resolve any obstacles along the way and reach a final agreement that will allow us to braille the “i's” and cross the “t's.” ”
Will Israel agree to the deal?
Israeli officials say Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, is currently considering the proposal. There is no deadline set for responding.
On Tuesday, as negotiations continued, US President Joe Biden told reporters the proposal was “a little bit over the top.”
However, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is currently visiting Israel and plans to persuade Israeli leaders to accept a ceasefire. Blinken, who will be making his fifth visit to the region since the start of the war, will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Army Commander Helzi Halevi, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Blinken will also meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with Mr. Blinken on Tuesday. After the announcement, he told reporters that Hamas' proposals were “generally positive.” Egyptian officials told Reuters that Hamas' response showed “flexibility” and that negotiators would work toward an agreement.
Although not taking part in the negotiations, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday called for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 border with the capital in East Jerusalem as a condition before agreeing to recognize the state of Israel and “normalize” relations. Ta. This is the scenario that the United States is pursuing. . Palestinians, including Hamas, have long sought to establish a state in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas occupied by Israel in 1967.
Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Hussein Khalidi told Al Jazeera that Israel may try to water down some of the proposals, but mediating parties will try to seek compromises to reach an agreement.
“Qatar’s response [to the deal] It was positive to some extent,” Halliday said. “I believe that Secretary of State Blinken will work to resolve the Israeli issue. What is certain now is that the United States is keen to suspend the issue as soon as possible.”
But Al Jazeera's Rory Challans, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, said Israel may still not agree to a cease-fire deal. Israeli public opinion strongly supports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's continued war stance, which could hinder peace talks, he said.
“There is certainly broad agreement at the top level, at the elite level, that the war will not end as a result of the ceasefire agreement,” Challand said. “That's the essential obstacle to this agreement. It's looking at now [like] We're going back to the negotiating table. ”
