Hamas gave “positive preliminary confirmation” to a proposed truce with Israel in Gaza and the release of hostages, declared this Thursday the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.
“The Paris meeting managed to consolidate the proposals (…). “This proposal was approved by the Israeli side and we now have a positive preliminary confirmation from Hamas,” said Majed al Ansari, referring to the meetings between senior Qatari, American, Israeli and Egyptian officials held on Sunday in the French capital.
During a talk at Johns Hopkins University, The spokesperson stressed that there are still details to refine, but he was “optimistic” because it is the first time in two months that “both parties agree in the premises” on which negotiations are being held.
Al Ansari advanced that there is “a very difficult road ahead” and warned that the situation is “fluid”, but he was confident that in the coming weeks there may be “good news.”
The intelligence chiefs of Israel, the United States and Egypt, as well as the prime minister of Qatar, reached on Monday after two days of meeting in Paris a proposed agreement for a new truce and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, draft who was later transferred to the Hamas leadership.
(Read also: Hamas leader will arrive in Egypt to negotiate a new truce in the Gaza Strip)
Relatives of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip demand an immediate agreement that allows their release.
In case of an agreement, This would be the second truce after the one agreed upon by Israel and Hamas between November 24 and 30, which allowed the exchange of 105 hostages, including some foreigners, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.
According to sources involved in the negotiation, the draft being negotiated includes several stages, the first of which would stipulate the release of 35 civilian captives held by Hamas in exchange for a complete cessation of Israeli operations. in Gaza for 45 days.
In addition, it includes the release of some 100 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for each hostage released by Hamas, while an increase in the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is also contemplated.
(Also: 'Israel acts in accordance with international law': Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson)
In the second stage, the female and male soldiers would be released, while the last phase would include the transfer of the bodies of the hostages who have died during their captivity in the Palestinian enclave, according to the sources.
The head of the political bureau of the Islamist group, Ismail Haniyeh, stated on Tuesday that the Palestinian movement “is studying” this proposal and that it will respond “soon.”although he demanded “the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops” from the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Government is not willing to stop the war, despite growing pressure from the families of those kidnapped to negotiate an agreement at any price for the release of the 132 hostages remaining inside the Strip, who are believed to be that about 28 would be dead.
AFP AND EFE
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