2024-07-15 16:51:54
The Times of Israel published the full text of the Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the newspaper, “the full text of the proposal includes general principles to be agreed upon between Israel and Hamas regarding the exchange of hostages and prisoners, and the restoration of sustainable calm, with Qatar, Egypt and the United States guaranteeing the implementation of what was stated in the agreement.”
According to the newspaper, the proposal, which consists of three stages, each of which takes 42 days, aims, according to the newspaper, “to release all Israeli civilian and military hostages in the Gaza Strip, whether they are alive or dead, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.”
It also aims to “restore sustainable calm that would achieve a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the opening of border crossings, and the facilitation of the movement of people and goods,” according to The newspaper.
The first stage
- The first phase, which will last for 42 days, includes a mechanism for exchanging hostages and prisoners between the two sides, with the entry of humanitarian and relief aid and fuel, as well as the start of the reconstruction process in Gaza.
- It includes a temporary cessation of military operations by both parties, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces eastward away from populated areas along the border in all areas of the Gaza Strip, including the Gaza Valley (Netzarim axis and Kuwait Roundabout).
- It includes a temporary halt to air traffic (military and reconnaissance) over the Gaza Strip for 10 hours a day, and 12 hours a day during the days in which the hostage exchange operations will take place. It also includes the return of the displaced to their places of residence.
- Starting from the first day of the agreement, increasing and sufficient quantities of humanitarian and relief aid and fuel will be brought in (600 trucks per day, including 50 fuel trucks, 300 of which will go to the northern Gaza Strip), and this will continue throughout the stages of the agreement.
- On the seventh day (after the release of 7 female hostages), Israeli forces will withdraw completely from Rashid Street east to Salah al-Din Street, military sites and installations will be completely dismantled, and the displaced will begin to return to their places of residence, with freedom of movement for residents in all areas of the Gaza Strip, and humanitarian aid will be brought in via Rashid Street as of the first day without restrictions.
- On the twenty-second day, according to the proposal, Israeli forces will withdraw from the central Gaza Strip (especially the Netzarim axis and Kuwait Roundabout) east of Salah al-Din Street to an area along the border, with the continued return of displaced persons to their places of residence in the northern Gaza Strip, and continued freedom of movement for residents in all areas of the Strip.
- Regarding the exchange of hostages and prisoners, Hamas will release during this stage 33 Israeli hostages (alive or dead) including women (civilians and military), children (under 19 years of age, non-military), elderly (over 50 years of age), sick and wounded civilians, in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers.
- This stage includes the release of all living Israeli civilian women and children (under the age of 19), in exchange for Israel releasing 30 children and women for each hostage, taking into account lists provided by Hamas based on the priority of their imprisonment.
- Hamas will also release all elderly hostages (over 50 years old), sick and wounded civilians, in exchange for Israel releasing 30 elderly prisoners (over 50 years old) and sick prisoners (with a remaining prison term of 15 years) for each hostage, taking into account lists provided by Hamas based on the priority of their imprisonment.
- Hamas will also release all living female Israeli soldiers, in exchange for Israel releasing 50 female prisoners in Israeli jails for each hostage released (30 serving life sentences, and 20 with 15 years remaining in prison) according to lists provided by Hamas, with the exception of an agreed number of prisoners (at least 100) that will be discussed in the second stage.
- This stage also includes the release of an agreed number (at least 50) of Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment.
- Regarding the mechanism for exchanging hostages and prisoners between the two sides during the first stage, the proposal indicates that on the first day, Hamas will release 3 Israeli civilian hostages, and on the seventh day, it will release 4 civilian hostages.
- After that, Hamas will release 3 hostages every 7 days, starting with women (civilians and military), and all living hostages, before handing over the “remains of the dead.” Hamas will provide, by the seventh day, information on the number of Israeli hostages that will be released during this phase.
- In the sixth week, Hamas will release all remaining hostages included in this phase, in exchange for Israel releasing the agreed number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, according to lists to be submitted by Hamas.
- During this week (after the release of Hisham al-Sayed and Avra Mengistu, who will be included in the total number of 33 hostages agreed to be released during the first stage), the Israeli side will release 47 prisoners from the Gilad Shalit deal who were re-arrested.
- If the number of living Israeli hostages to be released during this stage does not reach 33, the difference will be made up by releasing an equal number of “human remains” from the same categories for this stage.
- In return, Israel will release all women and children (under 19 years old) arrested from the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023, and this will take place in the sixth week.
- According to the proposal, the exchange process is linked to commitment to the obligations stipulated in the agreement, including the cessation of military operations by both sides, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of internally displaced persons, and the entry of humanitarian aid.
- The proposal includes a pledge not to re-arrest released Palestinian prisoners on the same charges for which they were previously arrested. The Israeli side will not return released Palestinian prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentences, and they will not be required to sign any document as a condition for release.
- The proposal stated that the mechanism for exchanging hostages and prisoners in the first phase will not be considered the basis for the exchange mechanism in the second phase, as no later than the sixteenth day, indirect negotiations between the two sides must begin to agree on the terms for implementing the second phase of the agreement, including the mechanism for exchanging hostages and prisoners (the remaining soldiers and men), and this must be completed and agreed upon before the end of the fifth week of the first phase.
- The proposal includes, in the first phase, the continuation of the United Nations, its agencies and other organizations in carrying out their work in providing humanitarian services in all areas of the Gaza Strip.
- The rehabilitation of the infrastructure will also begin, and an agreed-upon amount of equipment necessary for civil defence and rubble removal will be brought in.
- The proposal stated that the first phase would also include facilitating the entry of supplies and equipment to shelter internally displaced persons who lost their homes during the war (at least 60,000 temporary homes “caravans” and 200,000 tents).
- Mossad chief David Barnea will take part in new talks this week in Qatar, despite the Mawasi incident and the assassination attempt on the leader of Hamas’s military wing, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing a foreign official familiar with the ceasefire negotiations.
- After the release of all female Israeli soldiers, Israel will allow an increase in the number of travelers, patients and wounded through the Rafah crossing, while removing restrictions on travel and restoring the movement of goods and trade.
- The proposal also includes starting the necessary arrangements and plans for the comprehensive reconstruction of homes, civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure that were destroyed during the war, and supporting those affected by it under the supervision of a number of countries and organizations, including Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
- According to the proposal, all the procedures of the first phase will continue as long as negotiations continue on the terms of implementing the second phase of this agreement, and the guarantors of the agreement will make every effort to ensure the continuation of the indirect negotiations, until the two sides can reach an agreement on the terms of implementing the second phase.
The second phase
According to the proposal, the second stage would also last 42 days, during which the restoration of sustainable calm would be declared (a permanent cessation of military operations and hostilities), and hostages and prisoners would be exchanged between the two sides, including all remaining living male Israeli hostages (civilian and military) for Palestinian prisoners, with a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
third level
- It will also last for 42 days, during which the two sides will exchange all human remains after determining their locations and identities.
- This phase includes starting to implement the Gaza Strip reconstruction plan for a period ranging between 3 and 5 years, and supporting all those affected under the supervision of a number of countries and organizations, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations, with the opening of border crossings and facilitating the movement of people and the transport of goods.
The proposal was announced by US President Joe Biden and presented to Hamas by mediators on May 27. It includes a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the Palestinian movement. Since last week, talks have been underway in Qatar and Egypt on the proposed US-backed agreement, which would allow for a cessation of fighting in Gaza, now in its tenth month, with the participation of the heads of US, Egyptian and Israeli intelligence.
The death toll from the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip for the 283rd day has risen to 38,584 dead and 88,881 wounded.
Suggest a correction
2024-07-15 16:51:54