Israel has offered Hamas, through mediators from Qatar and Egypt, a deal involving a ceasefire lasting up to two months as part of a broader agreement.
This offer, the most extended ceasefire proposition from Israel since the war’s inception, includes the liberation of all hostages in Gaza. According to Israeli officials, over 130 hostages remain in Gaza, with several fatalities occurring on October 7 and in the subsequent weeks.
The Israeli war cabinet, ten days ago, sanctioned a new proposal for a hostage exchange, deviating from previous rejected offers and displaying more initiative than earlier Israeli suggestions.
This proposal is pending Hamas’s response, with Israeli officials expressing cautious optimism about potential progress.
The proposed deal entails releasing all living hostages and returning deceased hostages’ bodies in stages. The initial phase would prioritize the release of women, hostages over 60, and those in critical health.
Subsequent phases would involve the release of female soldiers, non-soldier men under 60, Israeli male soldiers, and the bodies of deceased hostages.
The plan suggests a two-month timeframe to complete all hostage releases in these phases. It also details a pre-agreed exchange rate of Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli hostage category, followed by separate negotiations over prisoner identities.
Moreover, the proposal includes repositioning Israeli Defense Forces away from major population areas in Gaza, allowing Palestinians to return gradually to Gaza City and northern Gaza as the agreement progresses.
However, Israeli officials clarified that this proposal does not entail ending the war or releasing all 6,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, conveyed President Biden’s support for a ceasefire to facilitate hostage releases and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israeli authorities have indicated their willingness to release a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners if Hamas accepts the proposal.
