
Gaza Ceasefire Deal: The Gaza conflict seems to be nearing a major breakthrough as Hamas agreed to a three-phase draft ceasefire agreement, which Israel said on Tuesday it has “cautious optimism” about the deal. The truce, proposed by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, calls for the release of hostages being held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners who are being held by Israel. Israeli officials said the agreement would have to receive final approval from the Israeli Cabinet.
Key Highlights of the Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Under the draft agreement, Hamas will release 33 hostages in the first stage, including women, children, and elderly people. In return, Israel has promised to release around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are serving long-term sentences. According to an Israeli government official, “several hundred terrorists” are part of the list to be released.
The deal is divided into three phases:
- Hamas would release women, children, and elderly hostages, while Israel frees Palestinian women and minors from its prisons.
- Male hostages would be freed, followed by the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
- Focus shifts to rebuilding Gaza, exchanging deceased prisoners and hostages, and reopening borders to facilitate humanitarian aid.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that the negotiations are at their closest point to finalization. “We do believe that we are at the final stages,” al-Ansari remarked, though he urged caution until an official announcement is made. Efforts have been intensified since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left dozens of hostages in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden described the talks as being “on the brink” of an agreement, while Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel is hopeful of receiving “good news in the next few hours.”
Despite all this, there are still areas of contention. Some Israeli officials, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, are against ending the military campaign in Gaza. The idea of withdrawal of all Israeli forces or restoring Palestinian rule in Gaza has also been rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The major outstanding issues also include humanitarian concerns regarding the scale of assistance and resettlement of displaced Gazans.
The proposed truce seems to be received with a huge sigh of hope by the global community, which has wished for an almost immediate end of the war while bringing relief for those affected in the Gaza Strips. “.
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