Hamas Propose Another Ceasefire Proposal; Netanyahu Calls It "Unrealistic Demands"
Hamas, the resistance group of Gaza, has presented a new two-phase ceasefire proposal to the mediators. The proposal includes release of all the hostages in exchange of Palestinians who were detained by the Israelis. According to Reuters, 100 of the Palestinian prisoners in Israel are serving life sentences.
In the proposal, Hamas said the initial phase would see the release of all the women, children, elderly, and ill hostages in return of the 700-1000 Palestinians in Israeli prison. All Israeli “female recruiters” will also be released during the first phase, said the proposal.
According to the proposal, a final date for permanent ceasefire will be agreed upon after the initial exchange of hostages and prisoners, and a deadline for the complete withdrawal of Israeli army from Gaza will also be notified. The resistance group said all detainees from both sides will be released during the second phase of the proposal.
Taking to X (formerly twitter), Israeli Prime Minister’s office said Hamas is “continuing to hold to unrealistic demands”.
One quarter of the total population of Gaza is subjected to the forced famine, as Israeli occupation force blocked the desperately needed humanitarian aid from getting into the besieged Strip. The occupation force has also been targeting the aid seekers by shooting and bombing them while they swarm to get their hands on anything to quench their families’ hunger.
Egypt and Qatar have been trying to call thin down the differences between Israel and Hamas to call for a truce, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is hulking. Qatar did not immediately respond to the request to comment on the proposal, said Reuters.
Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi said Cairo is seeking for a permanent ceasefire, delivery of abundant humanitarian aids, and allow the displaced people from south and centre of Gaza to go move back to north. Speaking in a recorded video message, the Egyptian President warned about the dangers of Israel’s planned assault on Rafah, the area that shares border with Egypt.
Additionally, there is the threat of ground assault on Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Rafah will be attacked. More than 1.5 million displaced people are crammed up in Rafah, an area of only 63 square kilometers. Attacking the area, which once was announced as the “safe area” is now waiting to be destroyed. The Palestinians take every breath in fear of it being their last. The move caught international concerns for its consequences as many prominent leaders put it to be a blood bath, if Israel go forward with their plan.
Hamas said that a ceasefire negotiations had faltered over past few weeks due to Netanyahu’s rejection of the group’s demands that called for a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli aggression from the Strip, and delivery of abundance of aid in to the tiny coastal enclave.
