Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
In a step towards ending the 15-month-old war, Qatari mediators Tuesday presented a draft proposal to Israel and Hamas for an agreement to halt the fighting in Gaza and initiate an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Although officials reported a breakthrough in talks in Doha, with the potential for an agreement, several key aspects of the ceasefire’s implementation still need to be resolved. Both Israeli and Palestinian officials have shared points of the proposal, but Hamas has not disclosed any specifics, news agency Reuters reported.
The draft proposal presented involves a two-phase approach, beginning with the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and the sick. In exchange, up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners would be freed. This first stage also includes a partial Israeli military withdrawal, expected to last for 60 days.
After the initial phase, discussions would turn to the second stage, where the remaining 61 hostages, including military-age men, would be released, along with the bodies of those who have died. The Israeli withdrawal would be completed during this phase, marking the final step towards a broader ceasefire.
However, the critical task ahead is securing agreement on the finer points of implementation and ensuring that the ceasefire can hold.
Reuters is also carrying what it says is an outline of the proposed deal between Israel and Hamas, according to information it has received from an Israeli official and a Palestinian official.
A total of 33 hostages would be set free. These include children, women (including female soldiers), men over 50, as well as those who are wounded or sick. Israel believes that most of the hostages are alive, but there has been no official confirmation from Hamas.
After 16 days from the agreement taking effect, negotiations will begin for the second phase, aimed at securing the release of the remaining living hostages, including male soldiers and younger male civilians. This phase will also involve the return of the bodies of those hostages who have died.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel will release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners. The exact number will depend on how many hostages are still alive at the time. According to officials, the Israeli official estimates that “many hundreds” will be released, while the Palestinian official suggests it will exceed 1,000. It has not yet been agreed where these prisoners will be sent, but those convicted of deadly attacks or murder will not be released to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Additionally, anyone involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel will not be released.
Israel will not fully withdraw its troops from Gaza until all hostages have been returned. However, a phased pullback of Israeli forces will begin. Israeli troops will remain in the border perimeter to defend Israeli border towns and villages. Security arrangements will be made in the Philadelphi corridor along the southern edge of Gaza, with Israel withdrawing from parts of it after the first few days of the agreement.
Unarmed residents of North Gaza will be allowed to return, with a mechanism in place to prevent weapons from entering the area. The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza will gradually begin operations, facilitating the passage of humanitarian cases, including the sick. There will be a significant increase in humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip to alleviate the severe crisis faced by the population.
Optimism about the Gaza ceasefire negotiations is tempered by past failures, where earlier breakthroughs were obstructed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government or by Hamas, led by Mohammed Sinwar. Despite reports of a breakthrough in Doha talks, with Hamas reportedly accepting the draft agreement, final details are still being worked out.
Joe Biden, in his final week in office, expressed optimism about the possibility of a ceasefire proposal coming to fruition, stating, “we’re on the brink of a proposal … finally coming to fruition.” While Biden proposed a phased ceasefire plan in May 2024, he faced repeated obstacles due to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s opposition. Donald Trump also reportedly urged Netanyahu to end the fighting before he assumed office on January 20, 2025.
The conflict began in October 2023 with a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and 250 hostages taken. In retaliation, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has led to an estimated 46,645 Palestinian deaths, according to figures from Hamas-run health authorities, which the UN generally considers reliable.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
