Truce Negotiations
Sources within the Palestinian Resistance revealed to Al Mayadeen detailed points of the mediators' proposal presented to the Hamas Movement at a meeting in Cairo on April 8, clarifying the movement's position on it as well.
First stage: This revolves around the gradual return of displaced civilians to the northern Gaza Strip, with no specified numbers mentioned. This phase additionally involves the implementation of temporary housing arrangements in the northern region, overseen by a United Nations team to ensure the safe return of the displaced individuals. Five hundred aid trucks will be delivered daily, with a portion allocated to the northern region, including tents and caravans. In addition, efforts will be made to rehabilitate hospitals, health centres, and bakeries, while restoring infrastructure such as roads, water, electricity, sanitation, and communication networks. Furthermore, equipment for debris removal will be allowed entry.
The Israeli proposal that its forces relocate themselves to "outside densely populated areas" to locations designated by Israel was rejected by Hamas, deeming the term "outside densely populated areas" as vague, which would grant Israel the authority to control these areas and establish a buffer zone. However, Hamas agreed to the presence of the occupation forces at the border, on the condition that a complete withdrawal is eventually carried out. Hamas proposed that Israeli forces be stationed at the Netzarim junction as part of the first stage. However, they emphasized that at the end of this stage, all forces must withdraw outside the borders.
The proposal also includes the release of 40 Israeli captives, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for the release of 900 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 with life sentences. However, both the resistance movement and Israel respectively had objections to the details of how this would be implemented
Second stage: This would see the release of all Israeli captives and a return to "sustainable calm." Hamas considered the term "sustainable calm" unclear and emphasized that the second stage did not include any information regarding a ceasefire or a complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces. The second stage also did not specify the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released
Third stage: This would deal with exchange of the remains of Palestinians and Israelis. The sources revealed that the agreement is fully guaranteed by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
The Hamas delegation emphasized the necessity of achieving an agreement that fully halts aggression, ensures the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, and allows displaced people to return freely to their areas and places of residence, as well as provides relief to the Palestinian people and initiates the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the Israeli occupation.
Hamas added that a prisoner exchange deal must be concluded, whereby Palestinian detainees are released in exchange for Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip.
The movement reiterated its commitment, along with all Palestinian forces and factions, to achieve national objectives and establish a fully sovereign Palestinian state with al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital, in affirmation of the right of return and self-determination.
This article was published in
Volume 54
Number 26 - April 15, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54265.HTM
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