Lebanese media has published what it claims to be the text of an Israeli ceasefire and hostage agreement offer to Hamas, as relayed by Egyptian mediators, which would see at least 33 detainees released in the first phase, followed by a full cessation of hostilities.
The first phase of the agreement, lasting 40 days, involves a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Strip to allow for the movement of humanitarian aid and the return of civilians to their homes.
The agreement stipulates that 500 trucks, including 50 fuel trucks, enter the Strip daily, including supplies intended for Gaza’s reconstruction.
Israel will cease aerial surveillance of the Strip for eight hours a day, and for 10 hours a day when hostages are released. Hamas must release at least 33 living captives, civilians and soldiers, children under 19, the elderly, the sick, and the wounded.
For each released female individual and child, Israel will release 20 minors and Palestinian female prisoners. For each released elderly, sick, and wounded captive, Israel will release 20 captives over 50 years old who are also sick and injured, provided they are not serving sentences longer than 10 years.
For each released female soldier, Israel will release 20 female captives serving life sentences and an additional 20 serving up to 10 years, who may be released to Gaza or abroad.
Hamas will provide a list of detainees it wishes to release, containing up to 20 names; Israel will retain the right to veto names submitted by Hamas.
From the 16th day of the ceasefire, the parties will begin indirect talks on an agreement to achieve sustainable peace in Gaza, according to the report.
The second phase of the agreement, lasting 42 days, will involve finalizing agreed arrangements for sustainable peace. It will also see the release of remaining male Israeli civilians and soldiers in exchange for a certain number of Palestinian detainees and the complete withdrawal of Israel Defence Forces (IDF) troops from Gaza.
The third phase, lasting 42 days, will involve the exchange of dead bodies on both sides and the implementation of a five-year plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, including a provision that Hamas may not rebuild its military infrastructure.
Hamas has asked Egyptian and Qatari mediators to clarify the terms of the latest ceasefire proposal discussed with Israel, an Egyptian official said.
The official, who has close ties to the negotiations and spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the deal, said Hamas seeks clear terms for the unconditional return of displaced people to northern Gaza and to ensure that the second phase of the deal will include discussions on the gradual and complete withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the entire Gaza Strip.
The official said the current agreement does not fully explain who will be allowed to return to the north and how this will be decided.
It is unclear whether Hamas’s request for clarity will delay progress on the emerging agreement. Israel and Hamas have been far apart on the key issue of whether the war will ultimately end as part of a later stage of the agreement.
The phased agreement includes the release of 33 civilians and sick hostages held by terrorists in exchange for a cessation of hostilities and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
