Ceasefire Talks With Israel and Hamas Could Restart Sunday
Efforts to negotiate a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas are anticipated to resume with serious intent in Qatar, potentially as early as Sunday, Egyptian officials have reported. This round of talks would represent the first occasion that both Israeli and Hamas representatives have engaged in these indirect negotiations since Ramadan began. Despite aspirations to establish a six-week truce prior to the commencement of Ramadan, Hamas declined any agreement not leading to a lasting cease-fire in Gaza, a condition Israel did not accept.
Both parties have recently taken steps to reinvigorate the discussions, which had not completely ceased. Hamas presented mediators with a revised three-phase ceasefire proposal, according to information from two Egyptian officials familiar with the talks. The proposal begins with a six-week ceasefire during which 35 hostages—comprising women, the sick, and the elderly—held in Gaza would be exchanged for 350 Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Additionally, at least five female soldiers would be exchanged by Hamas for 50 prisoners each, including some convicted of terrorism, with Israel also pulling back from key areas in Gaza to facilitate the return of displaced persons and the delivery of aid.
This escalation has led to severe humanitarian concerns, including acute malnutrition among nearly a third of children under two in north Gaza, as reported by UNICEF.
The proposed second stage involves declaring a permanent ceasefire and the release of remaining Israeli hostages for more prisoners. The final stage would see Hamas return bodies in exchange for Israel lifting the Gaza blockade and commencing reconstruction.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deemed the proposal unrealistic but has agreed to continue discussions in Qatar. Although aimed to restart on Sunday, the talks may be postponed to Monday.
Netanyahu’s administration has dismissed the idea of a permanent ceasefire, focusing instead on the objective of “annihilating Hamas.” Plans for a military operation in Rafah, where many displaced Palestinians have sought refuge, have been confirmed, despite international warnings of the potential for disaster. Israel maintains its intention to dismantle Hamas forces there.
The conflict has resulted in significant civilian displacement and casualties, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 31,000 Palestinians killed, including a large proportion of women and children. The war has severely impacted Gaza’s population, with a significant portion facing starvation, according to the United Nations.
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