According to a report in the New York Times, an agreement between Israel and Hamas could be imminent. According to this, more than 100 hostages would be released during a ceasefire of around two months. A draft will be discussed today.
A draft agreement is to be discussed in Paris today that provides for a longer ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages. This is reported by the New York Times, citing US government circles.
Accordingly, the head of the US secret service CIA, William Burns, will speak to representatives of Israel, Egypt and Qatar in Paris. Among other things, Burns was supposed to meet the head of the Israeli secret service Mossad, David Barnea, the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani and the Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
Two phases of 30 days each
The draft was drawn up by US negotiators based on suggestions from Israel and the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. The deal stipulates that Hamas will release more than 100 hostages and that Israel will stop its military action in the Gaza Strip for around two months.
In a first phase, according to the draft, fighting should be paused for 30 days. Meanwhile, Hamas should release female, elderly and injured hostages.
At the same time, both sides should negotiate a second phase in which Israeli men and soldiers taken hostage by Hamas would be released for another 30 days of ceasefire. It is still unclear how many imprisoned Palestinians Israel would have to release for such a deal.
“Cautiously optimistic”
The hope is that Israel will not resume fighting in the way it is now after a two-month ceasefire.
According to the report, negotiators are “cautiously optimistic.” After US President Joe Biden’s talks with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar about a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said such developments were not expected to be imminent.
Israel has been massively attacking the Gaza Strip since a major attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 last year, in which, according to Israeli figures, 1,140 people were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage into the Gaza Strip. Israel’s stated goal is the destruction of Hamas.