Hamas accepts draft Gaza ceasefire agreement, hostage release

Officials said today that Palestinian militant group Hamas has accepted the draft ceasefire agreement at the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages. According to Qatar, which brokered the talks, negotiations between Israel and Hamas are “closer than ever --” for reaching an agreement. The Israeli side confirmed the progress in the talks, but said details are still being completed. The draft proposal envisions a three-phase agreement, beginning with fighting cuts, exchange of hostages with Palestinian prisoners, withdrawing Israeli forces from parts of Gaza and introducing humanitarian aid.

Officials voiced optimism Tuesday that they could secure an agreement between Israel and Hamas before January 20th, the day of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman said negotiations are positive and productive, but without providing further details.

The draft agreement has been sent to both sides. Yes, obstacles to the main controversial issues between the two sides have been overcome. Now discussions are continuing on the final details... It's hard, especially based on past experience, to set a deadline for when the deal can be announced, but I can say we're closer today than ever before to achieving it”, declared Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansar.

Israeli officials confirmed the progress and said the plan would be sent to the government cabinet for approval. Hamas announced through a statement that negotiations have entered “The last phase”.

President-elect Trump said Monday evening that the ceasefire agreement is “very close to” to be reached.

In an interview for the American Channel Newsmax, Mr. Trump, who has sent his representative to negotiations under way in Doha, Qatar, said that “There has been a handshake and that perhaps the deal will be reached by the end of the week”

President Joe Biden confirmed the progress.

“Finally, we are on the verge of reaching agreement based on the plan I proposed a few months ago. From my experience in the public ministry, I have learned that never, ever, ever, should you give up... They went through hell. Many innocent people have been killed, many communities have been destroyed. The Palestinians deserve peace and the right to determine their destiny. Israel deserves lasting peace and security. The hostages and their families deserve to unite. We're making an urgent effort to achieve this deal”, He declared.

The three-phase agreement begins with the gradual release of 33 hostages, including women, children, elderly people and civilians injured in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children imprisoned by Israel, within a six-week period.

Among the 33 hostages will be the five Israeli soldiers. They will be exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners, 30 of whom are militants sentenced to life imprisonment. Until the end of the first phase, all civilian hostages alive or dead are projected to have been released, under the draft agreement, provided by the Associated Press news agency.

During these first 42 days, Israeli forces will be withdrawn from the populated centre, Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes in northern Gaza and the amount of humanitarian aid entering enclaves will be increased.

Details on the second phase of the agreement must be discussed during the first phase. The agreement does not include written guarantees that the ceasefire will remain in force, meanwhile, allowing Israel to resume the military campaign after the end of the first phase, but international mediators have given Hamas guarantees.

Under the deal, Israel will be allowed during the first phase to keep Corridor Filadelf under control, part of the territory stretching along Gaza's border with Egypt, but will pull out of the corridor that divided Gaza in the middle.

In the second phase, Hamas must release the other hostages who are alive, mainly soldiers, in exchange for other Palestinian prisoners and “full withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza.

If an alternative government is not currently negotiated to govern Gaza in these talks, then Hamas will continue to have control over this territory.

In the third phase, the troops of the slain hostages will return to Israel in exchange for a three-to-five-year reconstruction plan for Gaza, to take place under international supervision. / VOA