War in the Middle East
Struggle for a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip – Hamas with its own proposal
Palestinian children stand in front of the rubble of destroyed houses and vehicles after an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip
© Mohammed Talatene / DPA
Several sides are currently trying to come up with a plan for a further ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Egypt, the USA and Qatar are negotiating between Israel and Hamas. The latter has its own ideas.
According to a draft, the radical Hamas is proposing a three-stage plan for a ceasefire Gaza Strip. It is reacting to the mediation efforts of Qatar and Egypt. Accordingly, there will be indirect talks with Israel in an initial phase lasting 45 days. Their goal is to end the military operation and restore calm. In addition, hospitals and refugee camps in the Gaza Strip are to be rebuilt. Israeli troops should be withdrawn from the populated areas, according to the draft, which is available to the Reuters news agency.
Some civilian hostages are to be released, in return for Palestinian prisoners being released from Israeli custody. In a second phase, all hostages should be released – again in return for the release of Palestinians – and the Israeli military should completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip. In a third phase lasting 45 days, the dead are to be replaced.
Qatar: “Positive response from Hamas”
The mediator Qatar previously said that the Islamist Hamas had sent positive signals, according to the Qatari government. “We have received a positive response from Hamas, it has several reservations but is generally positive,” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Tuesday at a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Doha.
Hamas itself said it and its allies had dealt with the mediation proposal “in a positive spirit.” However, the agreement must lead to a complete and comprehensive ceasefire, an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of the war-torn coastal area and the full release of Palestinian prisoners.
US President Joe Biden commented on the development on Tuesday in Washington with the words: “There is some movement.” There was a reaction from Hamas, but it seemed to be “a little exaggerated.” Qatar, Egypt and the USA have been making intensive efforts for several weeks to bring about a ceasefire and secure the release of more than 130 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Fighting in the Middle East
In ruins: This is what the north of the Gaza Strip looks like after seven weeks of war
Israel is struggling to release all hostages
According to media reports, the mediators’ proposal is a multi-stage framework agreement that provides for a longer ceasefire, but leaves several important details open. In the first phase, Hamas is expected to release three dozen female, elderly male and injured hostages. During the ceasefire, Israel and Hamas should then continue to negotiate through mediators in order to achieve the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
In the only agreement of its kind to date, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners, all women and young people, in November in return for 105 Hamas hostages, including 14 German citizens. The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations on October 7th in Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip.