2024-07-11 13:17:50
Tel Aviv: Hamas has given preliminary approval to a US-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire in Gaza, giving up a key demand. Hamas and an Egyptian official said on Saturday that Hamas has given up its key demand that Israel make a public commitment to a complete end to the war. The apparent agreement by the militant group could help bring about the first halt to fighting since last November and set the stage for further talks on ending a devastating nine-month war. But all sides cautioned that a deal is still not guaranteed. Hamas controlled Gaza before the war began with Israel’s October 7 attack.
The ceasefire will happen in several phases
The two officials said Washington’s phased deal would first include a six-week “comprehensive and complete” ceasefire in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded. During these 42 days, Israeli forces would withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and allow displaced people to return to their homes in northern Gaza, the officials said.
He said during this period Hamas, Israel and the mediators would also negotiate the terms of a second phase, which could see the release of the remaining male hostages (civilians and soldiers) in exchange for Israel freeing additional Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The third phase would see the release of all remaining hostages, including the bodies of dead hostage takers, and the start of a year-long reconstruction project.
Hamas asked for written guarantee
Both officials said Hamas still wants “written guarantees” from mediators that Israel will continue talks on a permanent cease-fire agreement after the first phase takes effect. The Hamas representative said the group’s approval came after receiving “verbal commitments and guarantees” from mediators that fighting would not be resumed and that talks would continue until a permanent cease-fire was reached. “Now we want these written guarantees,” he said.
Ceasefire talks have not taken place before because Hamas insists that any agreement must include a complete end to the war. In contrast, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered to halt the fighting but not end it completely until Israel achieves its goal of destroying Hamas’s governing and military capabilities and freeing all those held hostage by the terrorist group.
What is Hamas afraid of?
Earlier, Hamas had expressed concern that Israel would start the war again after the release of the hostages. Similarly, Israeli officials had worried that Hamas would withdraw from the talks indefinitely without releasing the hostages after the initial ceasefire. This news came out on Saturday amid fighting in Gaza and continued Israeli aerial bombardment. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said four police officers were killed in an Israeli air strike in Rafah on Saturday. The ministry, which oversees the civilian police, said the officers were killed during a foot patrol to protect properties. It said eight other police officers were injured. The Israeli army has not immediately responded to questions.
Funeral prayers were held in the central city of Deir al-Balah for 12 Palestinians, including five children and two women, killed in three separate attacks in central Gaza on Friday and Saturday, according to hospital officials. Two of those killed in attacks on Friday’s Mugazzi refugee camp were staff of the UN agency working for Palestinian refugees, the UN agency’s communications director said. A total of 194 UN staff have been killed in the conflict since October.