7/5/2024–|Last updated: 5/7/202410:01 PM (Mecca time)
The expected exchange deal between Hamas and Israel has jumped to the forefront of regional and international concerns amid a state of controversy regarding the positions of both parties as well as regional parties, as well as some ambiguity and confusion regarding Israel’s position on the deal.
Yesterday, Monday, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced its approval of a three-stage ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the exchange of hostages and detainees, but an Israeli official said that the agreement was unacceptable to Israel due to the “watering down” of its terms.
The United States, which along with Qatar and Egypt is playing a mediating role in the talks, said that it is studying Hamas’ response and will discuss it with its allies in the Middle East.
According to Reuters news agency, and based on the details announced so far by Hamas officials and an official familiar with the talks, and contained in a copy of the proposal, the agreement to which Hamas announced its approval includes the following:
The first stage
- Ceasefire for 42 days.
- Hamas hands over to Israel 33 hostages, alive or dead, and for each hostage, 30 Palestinian children and women are released from Israeli prisons based on lists provided by Hamas that depend on the dates these detainees entered prisons, starting with the oldest.
- As of the first day of the ceasefire, intensive and sufficient quantities of humanitarian aid, relief materials, and fuel enter (600 trucks per day, including 50 fuel trucks, 300 of which are directed to the north of the Strip), including the fuel needed to operate the power plant and commercial activities, as well as the equipment needed to remove rubble and restore Rehabilitating and operating hospitals, health care centers, and bakeries in all areas of the Gaza Strip, with this continuing throughout all stages of the agreement.
- Hamas releases 3 Israeli hostages on the third day of implementing the agreement, then releases 3 more hostages every 7 days, giving priority to women as much as possible, including civilians and conscripts.
- In the sixth week, Hamas releases the remaining civilian hostages included in this phase. In return, Israel releases the agreed-upon number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons according to the lists that Hamas will provide.
- Israel partially withdraws its forces from Gaza and allows Palestinians freedom of movement from the south of the Strip to its north.
- Cessation of military aviation operations over the Gaza Strip for 10 hours daily, and for 12 hours on the day of the release of hostages and prisoners.
- On the third day after the release of the first batch of Palestinian detainees, Israeli forces completely withdraw from Al-Rashid Street in northern Gaza, dismantling all military sites.
- On the 22nd day of the first phase, Israeli forces withdraw from the center of the Strip, east of Salah al-Din Road, to an area close to the Israeli border.
The second phase
- Another 42-day period includes an agreement to restore “sustainable calm” in Gaza, which an official familiar with the talks said Hamas and Israel agreed to in order not to discuss a “permanent ceasefire.”
- Complete withdrawal of most Israeli forces from Gaza.
- Hamas released members of the Israeli reserve forces and some soldiers in exchange for Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners.
third level
- Completing the exchange of bodies and beginning reconstruction according to a plan supervised by Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations.
- Ending the complete siege on the Gaza Strip.
- Beginning to implement a 3- to 5-year plan to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, which includes homes, civil facilities, infrastructure, and compensation for all those affected, under the supervision of a number of countries and organizations, including Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, and the United Nations.