Hamas proposes three-stage ceasefire plan over 135 days to end war
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Gaza: Hamas has put forth a ceasefire proposal outlining a three-phase plan lasting 45 days each, with the ultimate goal of concluding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
This comes in response to a proposal from Qatari and Egyptian mediators, supported by the United States and Israel. The draft document details the key components of the Hamas counterproposal, reported Reuters.
The initial phase involves the exchange of remaining Israeli hostages, captured on October 7, for Palestinian prisoners. Subsequently, the reconstruction of Gaza would commence, followed by a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the exchange of bodies and remains.
In the first 45-day phase, the proposal suggests the release of Israeli women hostages, males under 19, the elderly, and the sick, in exchange for the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails.
The second phase would witness the release of remaining male hostages, with the third and final phase focusing on the exchange of remains. By the conclusion of this process, Hamas anticipates reaching a comprehensive agreement to end the war.
The group, governing Gaza, expressed a desire for the release of 1500 prisoners, with one-third selected from a list of Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. Additionally, the proposed truce aims to enhance the flow of aid, including food, to address the critical humanitarian situation faced by civilians in Gaza, grappling with hunger and severe shortages of essential supplies.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent diplomatic engagement in Israel aligns with efforts to facilitate a prolonged truce.
Hamas's counteroffer, including specific details, has not been previously reported. This episode of conflict began after Hamas-ruled Gaza militants killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on October 7. Gaza's Health Ministry reports at least 27,585 Palestinians confirmed killed in Israel's military campaign, with many more feared buried under rubble.
