CAIRO (AP) — Israel and Hamas seem like severely negotiating an finish to the battle in Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages. A leaked truce proposal hints at compromises by each side after months of stalemated talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week praised Israel for providing what he described as important concessions and saying “ the time is now ” for Hamas to seal the deal. Hamas leaders, in the meantime, say they’re reviewing the proposal in a “optimistic spirit” and sending a workforce to Egypt within the coming days to proceed the talks.
Right here’s what we all know to this point in regards to the present proposal, confirmed by Egyptian and Hamas officers who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate behind-the-scenes negotiations.
WHERE THE TWO SIDES STAND
Israeli leaders are weighing whether or not to just accept a deal that might delay or forestall their deliberate floor invasion of the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah — a situation that falls in need of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledges of “ complete victory ” and the destruction of Hamas.
Hamas’ militant leaders should resolve if giving up the hostages, the group’s largest bargaining chip, is value securing a long-term truce however not essentially a everlasting finish to the battle.
The plan provided by Egyptian mediators goals to stave off Israel’s Rafah offensive, which the U.S. says would have devastating penalties for over one million displaced Palestinians crowded in opposition to the border with Egypt. The Egyptians have additionally warned Israel in opposition to the operation, fearing a flood of Palestinian refugees pushed into its territory.
DE-ESCALATE IN PHASES
The preliminary stage of the deal would final for 40 days. Hamas would begin by releasing feminine civilian hostages in change for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
After this primary batch, Israeli troops would withdraw from a coastal street in Gaza and head inland to facilitate the entry of humanitarian support. This may additionally permit displaced civilians to return to their houses within the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas would supply an inventory of hostages who’re nonetheless alive throughout that point. Israel estimates that Hamas is holding about 100 hostages and the stays of 30 others both killed within the Oct. 7 Hamas assault that sparked the battle or who’ve died in captivity.
Inside the third week, each side would begin oblique negotiations that purpose to revive everlasting calm. Three weeks into the primary part, Israeli troops would withdraw from central Gaza.
NEXT STEPS TOWARD PEACE
The second six-week part would search to finalize preparations for a everlasting calm, the discharge of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, each civilians and troopers, in change for extra Palestinian prisoners. The soldier hostages wouldn’t be launched earlier than the beginning of the calm.
The third and closing stage would come with the discharge of the stays of deceased hostages nonetheless in Gaza, extra prisoners held by Israel, and the beginning of a five-year reconstruction plan. The plan says that Hamas would agree to not rebuild its navy arsenal.
STICKING POINTS
Each side need to finish the battle on their very own phrases.
Hamas leaders have for months refused something in need of a full Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip and a everlasting finish to the combating. Hamas negotiators can be in search of clarification on these points once they return to Cairo.
Israel desires to see all remaining hostages residence secure, with Hamas and different militant teams crushed on the battlefield and expelled from energy in Gaza — unable to launch one other assault just like the one on Oct. 7 that sparked the battle.
Israel says the Rafah invasion is crucial for these targets. Netanyahu says Israel will invade the city with or with out a hostage deal.
Netanyahu additionally faces heavy home strain. 1000’s of individuals have joined weekly demonstrations calling on him to succeed in a hostage deal instantly. On the similar time, hard-liners in his Cupboard have threatened to carry down the federal government if he ends the battle.
The Biden administration, which supplies Israel essential navy and diplomatic assist, says it opposes a Rafah invasion except Israel supplies a “credible” plan for shielding civilians there.
POST-WAR UNCERTAINTY
It isn’t clear whether or not the cease-fire proposal addresses key questions on what occurs in Gaza as soon as the present spherical of combating ends.
The US has known as for a plan that features a return of the internationally acknowledged Palestinian Authority, which was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 and now administers components of the occupied West Financial institution.
The Biden administration seeks eventual Palestinian governance in Gaza and the West Financial institution as a precursor to Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu and his right-wing authorities reject a job for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and say they may by no means permit a Palestinian state.
Israel desires open-ended freedom of motion for its navy in Gaza, whereas the Biden administration says it gained’t settle for a return of Israeli navy occupation of the Gaza Strip.
It additionally stays unclear who will run Gaza in the course of the five-year reconstruction part, what’s going to occur to Hamas throughout that point and who pays for the daunting job of rebuilding.
The stakes had been underscored in a brand new U.N. report Thursday that estimated harm brought on by the battle in Gaza at over $18.5 billion. It stated it will take till 2040 to rebuild all the houses destroyed in practically seven months of Israeli bombardment and floor offensives. Gaza was already grappling with a forty five% unemployment fee earlier than the battle, in response to the U.N. Improvement Program.
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Callister reported from New York.
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Observe AP’s protection of the battle at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war