Hamas submitted what it said was a ceasefire proposal on Thursday. The plan was passed on to Egypt and Qatar, who will inform the US. The proposal would include that the Israeli army should initially withdraw from the heavily populated areas and cities of Gaza, after which the displaced people can return. But the focus is also mainly on prisoners and hostages.
In the proposal, Hamas talks about the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences. Hamas says the first release of Israelis would include women, children, elderly and sick hostages in exchange for the release of 700-1,000 Palestinian prisoners, according to the proposal. This would also include the release of Israeli “female recruits”. In a second phase, all prisoners on both sides would be released and a date would be set for a permanent ceasefire after the exchange of the first hostages and prisoners.
The “comprehensive vision” is also based on stopping Israeli “aggression” against Palestinians and providing aid and assistance.
“Unrealistic”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday evening that Hamas is adhering to “unrealistic demands”. An update on the issue will be submitted to the War Cabinet and the Expanded Security Cabinet on Friday, according to a statement from his cabinet.
The Israeli public broadcaster Kan had spoken on Thursday, on the authority of an anonymous source, of a positive step and “reasonable” demands. According to the source, the document could lead to an agreement. “An agreement will depend on the Israeli position and the level of pressure the US will exert on Benjamin Netanyahu and his government,” the source said.
According to Netanyahu, Qatar is putting pressure on Hamas and that is starting to work. According to his cabinet, Doha has threatened to expel Hamas members from the country and not give them any more money if they do not make concessions during the negotiations. The claims could not be independently verified.
End war
Egypt, Qatar and the US are trying to enforce a longer ceasefire in exchange for a phased release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Hamas said ceasefire negotiations had collapsed in recent weeks as Netanyahu rejected their demands, which included a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from the strip, the return of those displaced in the south of the enclave to the center and the north, and increasing aid without restrictions.
In February, Hamas already received a draft proposal that resulted from discussions in Paris. It proposed a 40-day pause in all military operations and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages at a ratio of 10 to 1 – a similar ratio to the new ceasefire proposal.
Israel rejected that draft proposal, saying it does not want to end the war until it has destroyed Hamas. Hamas, on the other hand, insists that such a ceasefire agreement will end the war.