Hamas proposes 135-day Gaza truce with complete Israeli withdrawal
During the first 45-day phase, all Israeli women captives, males under 19 and the elderly and sick would be released, in exchange for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails
Published: 05:02 PM,Feb 07,2024 | EDITED : 09:02 PM,Feb 07,2024
An aerial view shows destroyed buildings in Beit Lahia following Israeli bombardments in the northern Gaza. — AFP
GAZA: Hamas has proposed a ceasefire to quiet the guns in Gaza for four-and-a-half months, during which all captives would go free, Israel would withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip and an agreement would be reached on an end to the war.
The Palestinian group's proposal - a response to an offer sent last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators and cleared by Israel and the United States - came during the biggest diplomatic push yet for an extended halt to the fighting.
Israel's Channel 13 cited a senior official as saying some of the demands presented were not acceptable to Israel, without providing details. Israel has previously said it will not pull its troops out of Gaza until Palestinian groups are wiped out.
The report quoted the unidentified official as saying Israeli authorities would debate whether to reject proposals outright or ask for alternative conditions.
A source close to the negotiations said the counterproposal did not require a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire at the outset, but that an end to the war would have to be agreed during the truce before final captives were freed.
A second source said Hamas still wanted guarantees from Qatar, Egypt and other friendly states that the ceasefire would be upheld and not collapse as soon as captives go free.
'They want the aggression to stop and not temporarily, not where the Israelis take the captives and then the Palestinian people live in a grinder.'
Ezzat El Reshiq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, confirmed the offer had been passed via Egypt and Qatar to Israel and the United States.
'We were keen to deal with it in a positive spirit to stop the aggression against our Palestinian people and secure a complete and lasting ceasefire as well as provide relief, aid, shelter and reconstruction,' he said.
According to the document, during the first 45-day phase, all Israeli women captives, males under 19 and the elderly and sick would be released, in exchange for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails. Israel would withdraw troops from populated areas.
Implementation of the second phase would not begin until the sides conclude 'indirect talks over the requirements needed to end the mutual military operations and return to complete calm'.
The second phase would include the release of remaining male captives and full Israeli withdrawal from all of Gaza. Bodies and remains would be exchanged during the third phase. — Reuters
The Palestinian group's proposal - a response to an offer sent last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators and cleared by Israel and the United States - came during the biggest diplomatic push yet for an extended halt to the fighting.
Israel's Channel 13 cited a senior official as saying some of the demands presented were not acceptable to Israel, without providing details. Israel has previously said it will not pull its troops out of Gaza until Palestinian groups are wiped out.
The report quoted the unidentified official as saying Israeli authorities would debate whether to reject proposals outright or ask for alternative conditions.
A source close to the negotiations said the counterproposal did not require a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire at the outset, but that an end to the war would have to be agreed during the truce before final captives were freed.
A second source said Hamas still wanted guarantees from Qatar, Egypt and other friendly states that the ceasefire would be upheld and not collapse as soon as captives go free.
'They want the aggression to stop and not temporarily, not where the Israelis take the captives and then the Palestinian people live in a grinder.'
Ezzat El Reshiq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, confirmed the offer had been passed via Egypt and Qatar to Israel and the United States.
'We were keen to deal with it in a positive spirit to stop the aggression against our Palestinian people and secure a complete and lasting ceasefire as well as provide relief, aid, shelter and reconstruction,' he said.
According to the document, during the first 45-day phase, all Israeli women captives, males under 19 and the elderly and sick would be released, in exchange for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails. Israel would withdraw troops from populated areas.
Implementation of the second phase would not begin until the sides conclude 'indirect talks over the requirements needed to end the mutual military operations and return to complete calm'.
The second phase would include the release of remaining male captives and full Israeli withdrawal from all of Gaza. Bodies and remains would be exchanged during the third phase. — Reuters