©Reuters. Smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Younis, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas, seen from a tent camp hosting displaced Palestinians in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, 14 March 202
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By Samia Nakhoul
DUBAI (Reuters) -Hamas has presented mediators and the United States with a ceasefire proposal for Gaza that would include the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences, according to a proposal seen from Reuters.
Under the proposal, Hamas said the initial release of Israelis would include women, children, elderly and sick hostages in exchange for the release of 700-1000 Palestinian prisoners. This includes the release of Israeli “female recruits.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Hamas’ new position was based on “unrealistic demands.”
Egypt and Qatar have sought to narrow differences between Israel and Hamas over what a ceasefire should look like, as a deepening humanitarian crisis sees a quarter of the population in the battered Gaza Strip at risk of famine.
Hamas said ceasefire negotiations have faltered in recent weeks due to Netanyahu’s rejection of its demands, which include a permanent ceasefire, an Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people to the south of enclave in the center and north, and the return of displaced people in the south of the enclave in the center and north. intensify aid without restrictions.
In February, Hamas received a draft proposal from the Gaza truce talks in Paris that included a 40-day pause in all military operations and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages at a ratio of 10 to one – a similar ratio to the new ceasefire proposal. .
RELEASE OF ALL DETAINEES
Israel also rejected the draft proposal, citing its long-standing goal of not ending the war until it destroyed Hamas. Hamas insists a deal should end the war.
Under the latest proposal, Hamas said a date for a permanent ceasefire would be agreed after the initial exchange of hostages and prisoners, as well as a deadline for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
The group said all detainees on both sides would be released in a second phase of the plan.
The war was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on cities in southern Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages, according to Israeli counts.
Since then, Israel’s air, sea and land assault on Gaza has killed more than 31,000 people and injured more than 71,500, according to Gaza health authorities.
The conflict has spread to other parts of the volatile Middle East. Lebanese Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has often exchanged fire with Israel along the border.
Pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq have attacked US forces in the country and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have attacked shipping lanes in and around the Red Sea to show their solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war.
Late Thursday, Hamas said it presented mediators with a comprehensive vision of a truce based on stopping what it calls Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, providing relief and aid, returning displaced Gazans to their homes and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Strength.
With the war now in its sixth month, the UN has warned that at least 576,000 people in Gaza are on the brink of famine and global pressure has grown on Israel to allow greater access to aid.