US proposal for new Gaza talks raises slight hope
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has presented a new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that includes the release of 10 hostages, according to Israeli media.
As per the new draft plan, the hostages are to be released in two groups within a week, several outlets reported.
Palestinian group Hamas would also have to hand over the bodies of 18 abductees still held in Gaza. The bodies of 180 Palestinians would also be handed over. In return, 125 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,111 Gaza residents who have been detained Israeli jails since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The two-month truce is set to facilitate negotiations between Israel and Hamas on an end to the almost 20-month-long conflict, according to the reports. If Israel and Hamas manage to come to an agreement, the remaining hostages held in Gaza are due to be released under the latest proposal. The proposal also stipulates that aid distribution in the Gaza Strip will once again be handled by the United Nations and international aid organizations.
The Israeli army is to withdraw to the positions it held before the start of the latest offensive in March. (DPA)
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