Hamas claims to have approved a proposal to end the war in Gaza and exchange Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
The Palestinian armed group told Al Jazeera Arabic on Wednesday that its delegation had given mediators its approval of a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal. Israel has not yet announced a response to this proposal.
The news comes after mediators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt reported that Potential deal to end Israel’s 15-month war on Gaza was closer than ever and could be released very soon but nothing is guaranteed. They said a deal could begin to be implemented “immediately” after signing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene his cabinet on Thursday, according to Israeli media.
Three phases
The proposed deal would take place in three stages, the Reuters news agency reported, citing an official briefed on the negotiations. During an initial six-week phase, Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from central Gaza and Palestinians would be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
Hamas would release 33 Israeli prisoners over the six weeks, including all female soldiers and civilians, children and men over 50, Reuters reported. Israel would release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every civilian captive released and 50 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli soldier.
Talks on the second phase are expected to begin on the 16th day of the first phase and are expected to include the release of remaining prisoners and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
A third phase is expected to include the return of corpses and the start of reconstruction in Gaza, Reuters reported.
Netanyahu met with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday. After the meeting, Smotrich released a video in which he said: “There is only one thing before my eyes, and that is the achievement of all the goals of the war. »
Smotrich and firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have both staunchly opposed a deal, threatening again this week to leave the government if it passes. Ben-Gvir met with a number of Knesset lawmakers on Wednesday.
Israel has previously said one of the main goals of its war is to “destroy” Hamas while ensuring the release of captives still held in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that Hamas had recruited almost as many new fighters as it had lost in its war against Israel, adding that the group could not be defeated by “a single military campaign.”
Washington is also trying to rally its allies around the idea of a “reformed” Palestinian Authority. finally take back the enclave to prevent a re-emergence of Hamas.
On Wednesday, representatives from around 85 countries gathered at Oslo City Hall to discuss ways to move toward a two-state solution. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said it was time to address “what happens after the ceasefire.”
Families of Israelis still detained in Gaza again staged large-scale protests Tuesday evening in Tel Aviv and elsewhere, calling for a deadline to reach a deal.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Israeli affairs analyst Dan Perry said the prospect of a ceasefire provokes two main reactions in Israel: first, joy over the likely release of Israeli prisoners and the end of the war and, second, the concern that Hamas, although militarily exhausted, would effectively be left in power.
“It is clearly evident that if Israel withdraws from Gaza, Hamas will remain in control,” Perry said. “And for that, I think many would blame Netanyahu because there is an obvious alternative to Hamas in the form of the Palestinian Authority. »
“People are dying hour by hour.”
As the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement appeared to move closer to the finish line, the Israeli army intensification of deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip.
At least 59 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Wednesday, medical sources told Al Jazeera.
The situation for the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza remains dire air and ground attacks continue and most aid is blocked by Israel.
Gaza’s health ministry said Wednesday that Israeli attacks since the start of the war have killed at least 46,707 Palestinians, 62 more than the day before. The number of injured people also rose to at least 110,265 people, the statement said.
Gazans are monitoring developments in Doha, but at the same time people are dying by the hour, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
“The more we hear about a possible ceasefire agreement, the more the pace of attacks accelerates and more families are targeted and killed. Over the past 72 hours, more people have been targeted inside residences. »
These included a family targeted in an overnight attack in Deir el-Balah that killed at least 12 people, including children, and an airstrike on the Bureij refugee camp, where bombs Israeli forces killed at least five people.
The Israeli military also ordered new forced displacements, this time for Palestinians living in the Jabalia region of northern Gaza, where a siege lasting more than 100 days has so far left more than 5,000 dead or missing. .
Israeli bombing on Wednesday cut power to the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza as attacks on health facilities continued after the Israeli army intervened. Kamal Adwan hospital burned last month and arrested its director.
