Jerusalem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, accepted late Saturday a new ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip that was presented by Egypt and Qatar, voicing hope that Israel would not block the plan.
“We received a proposal two days ago from our brothers in Egypt and Qatar, who are mediating the talks,”
Khalil al-Hayya, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, informed in a televised address on Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
“We engaged with the proposal positively and accepted it, and we hope that the occupation will not sabotage it or undermine the mediators’ efforts.”
What is included in the new ceasefire proposal?
Al-Hayya did not reveal specifics about the proposal, but international news outlets have in recent days reported that Egypt and Qatar presented a proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, under which the second phase of the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement between Hamas and Israel would take effect after a period of tranquility.
“We fully adhered to our commitments and worked with the mediators to ensure Israel would abide by its obligations. However, it reneged on the entire agreement once the first phase concluded,”
he said.
The Yedioth Ahronoth Israeli newspaper reported later that Tel Aviv has submitted an alternative proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement in Gaza, in which it requests that Hamas release 10 captives instead of five, as outlined in the Egyptian proposal.
It cited well-informed sources as saying that Israel “hopes to reach a ceasefire agreement before the Jewish Passover holiday,” which occurs between April 12 and 20.
A day earlier, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Tel Aviv had replied to the proposal welcomed from mediators with an option, which fully corresponded with the US, without revealing the particulars of either proposal. The Israeli military conducted a surprise airstrike on Gaza on March 18, killing over 920 people, wounding more than 2,000 others, and breaking the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement.
What are the key phases of the ceasefire agreement?
The initial phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Jan. 19 after 15 months of conflict and included a pause in hostilities, the release of some Israeli captives held by Hamas, and the freeing of some Palestinian detainees. The second phase of the three-stage agreement is aimed at focusing on negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Hamas asserts that any proposals must enable the commencement of the second phase, while Israel has suggested extending the first 42-day phase.
How has the conflict affected civilians in Gaza?
Over 50,200 Palestinians have been killed, primarily women and children, and more than 114,000 injured in a vicious Israeli military assault on Gaza since October 2023. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its offensive on the enclave.
