Hamas has put forward a proposal for a ceasefire plan that aims to bring a halt to the fighting in Gaza for a period of four-and-a-half months, with the ultimate goal of ending the war, reported several news outlets.
This proposal is in response to a plan presented by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, supported by the United States and Israel.
Reuters said that a draft document from Hamas outlines a three-phase approach, with each phase lasting 45 days.
The first phase involves a 45-day cessation of hostilities, during which Israeli women hostages, males under 19, the elderly, and the sick would be exchanged for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails. Additionally, Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza, and efforts to rebuild hospitals and refugee camps would commence.
The second phase would entail the release of the remaining male hostages and a complete Israeli withdrawal from all of Gaza. The exchange of bodies and remains would take place during the third phase.
Hamas has expressed a desire for the release of 1,500 prisoners, with a third of them to be selected from the list of Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons.
The proposed agreement also includes an increase in the delivery of food and other aid to Gaza. Hamas anticipates that negotiations to end the war would be concluded by the end of the 135-day ceasefire.
According to Reuters, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel after engaging with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt in what hopefully turns out to be a fruitful diplomatic effort aimed at achieving an extended truce.
Earlier, Israel and Hamas had agreed to a four-day ceasefire to facilitate the release of 50 hostages in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that for every additional 10 hostages released, the ceasefire would be extended by another day. This initial truce lasted one week and resulted in the release of approximately 100 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza was initiated following an attack by militants from Hamas-ruled Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of 253 hostages in southern Israel on October 7.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 27,585 Palestinians have been confirmed as killed in Israel’s military campaign, with thousands more feared to be buried under the rubble.