An Israeli delegation is heading to Qatar for oblique talks with Hamas on a doable hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza.
The event comes forward of a gathering between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in Washington DC on Monday geared toward pushing ahead peace efforts.
The US chief has been rising strain on the Israeli authorities and Hamas to safe a everlasting ceasefire and an finish to the 21-month-long conflict in Gaza.
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Smoke rises in Gaza following an explosion. Pic: Reuters
Mr Trump mentioned on Tuesday on social media that Israel had agreed “to the necessary conditions to finalise” a deal on a truce.
And Hamas, which runs the coastal Palestinian territory, mentioned on Friday it has responded to the US-backed proposal in a “positive spirit”.
So what’s within the plan?
The plan is for an preliminary 60-day ceasefire that would come with a partial launch of hostages held by the militant group in change for extra humanitarian provides being allowed into Gaza.
The proposed truce requires talks on ending the conflict altogether.
The conflict in Gaza started after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 individuals and taking 250 others hostage. Dozens of hostages have since been launched or rescued by Israeli forces, whereas 50 stay in captivity, together with about 30 who Israel believes are useless.
The proposal would reportedly see about half of the dwelling hostages and round half of the useless hostages returned to Israel over 60 days, in 5 separate releases.
Eight dwelling hostages can be freed on the primary day and two launched on the fiftieth day, based on an Arab diplomat from one of many mediating international locations, it’s reported.
5 useless hostages can be returned on the seventh day, 5 extra on the thirtieth day and eight extra on the sixtieth day.
That would go away 22 hostages nonetheless held in Gaza, 10 of them believed to be alive. It’s not clear whether or not Israel or Hamas would decide who’s to be launched.
Hamas has sought ensures that the preliminary truce would result in a complete finish to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
A Hamas official has mentioned Mr Trump has assured that the ceasefire will prolong past 60 days if needed to succeed in a peace deal, however there isn’t any affirmation from the US of such a assure.
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Potential challenges forward
And in an indication of the potential challenges nonetheless dealing with the 2 sides, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas mentioned considerations remained.
The considerations have been over humanitarian assist, passage by way of the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt, and readability over a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals.
Hamas’s “positive” response to the proposal had barely completely different wording on three points round humanitarian assist, the standing of the Israeli Protection Forces (IDF) inside Gaza and the language round ensures past the 60-day ceasefire, a supply with data of the negotiations revealed.
The Instances of Israel reported Hamas has proposed three amendments to the framework.
In accordance with a supply, Hamas needs the settlement to say that talks on a everlasting ceasefire will proceed till an settlement is reached; that assist will totally resume by way of mechanisms backed by the United Nations and different worldwide assist organisations; and that the IDF withdraws to positions it maintained earlier than the collapse of the earlier ceasefire in March.
Mr Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned in an announcement that adjustments sought by Hamas to the ceasefire proposal have been “not acceptable to Israel”.
Nevertheless, his workplace mentioned the delegation would nonetheless fly to Qatar to “continue efforts to secure the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel agreed to”.
At Ben Gurion airport in Israel earlier than setting off for the US, Mr Netanyahu mentioned he thought Mr Trump “can certainly help to advance” ceasefire efforts.
Mr Netanyahu additionally asserted his aim of returning the remaining hostages to Israel, and mentioned he would guarantee “the elimination of Hamas’ military and governmental power”.
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Faucet to comply with
One other potential problem is that Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly mentioned Hamas should be disarmed, which is a requirement the militant group has up to now refused to debate.
Hamas has mentioned it’s prepared to free all of the hostages in change for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and an finish to the conflict in Gaza.
Israel rejects that supply, saying it should agree to finish the conflict if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile – one thing that the group refuses.
Earlier negotiations have stalled over Hamas calls for of ensures that additional negotiations would result in the conflict’s finish, whereas Mr Netanyahu has insisted Israel would resume preventing to make sure the group’s destruction.
