Wednesday, February 07, 2024

Hamas Proposal for a Permanent Ceasefire





A shortcut of the Hamas propoal has been quoted in the Chinese language article above. The three-steps poposal seems to include a comprehensive list of claims difficult to be met by Israel. From there it might still be a long way to a permanent ceasefire. At least, it is a beginning .....

Specifically, within 45 days of the first phase, all women, boys under 19 years old, the elderly, and sick people detained in Israel will be released in exchange for 1,500 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons, that is, All women, children, the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the 500 people named by Hamas, including Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and guilty of serious crimes.

At the same time, Israel will withdraw its troops from residential areas. Reuters quoted the document as saying that the second phase of the plan will not begin until the two sides complete "indirect talks on the conditions required to end mutual military operations and restore complete calm."

All remaining male hostages will be released in the second phase "in exchange for a certain number of Palestinian prisoners" and a full Israeli military withdrawal from all of Gaza. In the third phase, the two sides will exchange the bodies and remains of the deceased and provide for the opening of all crossing points in the Gaza Strip to resume trade and enable barrier-free movement. Israel will commit to providing Gaza with the electricity and water it needs.

Hamas also wants to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians during the truce. For example, the proposal requires that at least 60,000 temporary homes and 200,000 tents be allowed into the strip in the first phase, and that at least 500 trucks of aid and fuel will be transported to all areas of the Gaza Strip every day.

In addition, Hamas also demands the development of a plan to rebuild homes, economic institutions and public facilities in the Gaza Strip within three years, no more than three years; demands that settlers stop attacking the Al-Aqsa Mosque and restore the situation at Islam's third holiest site to the status before 2002; to resume humanitarian services provided by international organizations including the United Nations, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Hamas politburo member Ezzat El-Reshiq confirmed that the proposal had been conveyed to Israel and the United States via Egypt and Qatar. "We very much hope that this matter will be dealt with in a positive spirit to stop the aggression against the Palestinian people, to ensure a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, and to provide relief, assistance, shelter and reconstruction," he told Reuters.


[SINA 新闻中心 on February 7, 2024]


Hamdan confirms that a Hamas delegation will travel to Cairo
to discuss a possible agreement on Gaza


Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas' political bureau, confirmed on Wednesday that a Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Haya will travel to Cairo to discuss proposals for a ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Hamdan said during a press conference: "In the framework of following up on the ideas we presented and within the framework of our keenness to achieve the best results in a way that serves the interests of our people, stops their suffering and alleviates their pain, by stopping the aggression against our people and by achieving full relief, lifting the siege and launching reconstruction, we confirm that a delegation from the movement's leadership, headed by Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya, will head to Cairo to follow up on this matter."

On Tuesday, Hamas submitted its response to the framework agreement in Paris to Qatar and Egypt, after the completion of the movement's leadership consultation and with the resistance factions.


[Amad عمد, Palestine, on February 7, 2024]

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