New details emerge on Gaza ceasefire proposal - War on Gaza

Al-Ahram Weekly

5 days ago

New details of the Gaza ceasefire proposal emerged as Israel sent a negotiating team to Qatar ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's White House visit for talks toward an agreement.
'There are 20 hostages that are alive, 30 dead. I am determined, we are determined, to bring them all back. And we will also be determined to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,' Netanyahu said on Sunday before departing, emphasizing the goal of eliminating Hamas' military and governing power.
A person familiar with the negotiations shared with The Associated Press a copy of the latest ceasefire proposal submitted by mediators to Hamas, and its veracity was confirmed by two other people familiar with the document. All three spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive talks with the media.
The document outlines plans for a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would hand over 10 living and 18 dead captives, Israeli forces would withdraw to a buffer zone along Gaza's borders with Israel and Egypt, and significant amounts of aid would be brought in. The document says the aid would be distributed by United Nations agencies and the Palestinian Red Crescent. It does not specify what would happen to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the American organization that has distributed food aid since May. Israel wants it to replace the U.N.-coordinated system.
A Trump guarantee
As in previous ceasefire agreements, Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities would be released in exchange for the captives, but the number is not yet agreed upon.
The proposal stops short of guaranteeing a permanent end to the war — a condition demanded by Hamas -- but says negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would take place during the 60 days. During that time, 'President (Donald) Trump guarantees Israel's adherence' to halting military operations, the document says, adding that Trump 'will personally announce the ceasefire agreement.'
The personal guarantee by Trump appeared to be an attempt to reassure Hamas that Israel would not unilaterally resume fighting as it did in March during a previous ceasefire, when talks to extend it appeared to stall.
Trump said last week that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire, but it was unclear if the terms were those in the document reviewed by the AP. Hamas has requested some changes but has not specified them.
Rift over ending the war
Ahead of the indirect talks with Hamas in Qatar, Netanyahu's office asserted that the group was seeking 'unacceptable' changes to the ceasefire proposal. Hamas gave a 'positive' response late Friday to the latest proposal.
The group has sought guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Previous negotiations have stalled over Hamas demands of guarantees that further negotiations would lead to the war's end, while Netanyahu has insisted Israel would resume fighting.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's army has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children.
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