US finally wants a ceasefire? Although the resolution doesn't directly call for a ceasefire, calls for international diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire.
US finalises Security Council draft resolution on Gaza truce
The US finalised its draft resolution for the UN Security Council on a truce deal between Israel and Hamas on Thursday, the Reuters news agency reports, in a move likely to serve as the final step before a vote is held.
A draft seen by Reuters suggests the UNSC adopt wording saying it, “unequivocally supports international diplomatic efforts to establish an immediate and sustained ceasefire as part of a deal that releases the hostages, and that allows the basis for a more durable peace to alleviate humanitarian suffering”.
It is not clear when the US will hold a vote to adopt the resolution. To pass, it will require at least nine votes in favour and no objections from veto-wielding countries the US, France, Britain, Russia and China.
Washington had previously been averse to using the word ceasefire in any UNSC resolution – and has vetoed three previous draft resolutions, two of which demanded an immediate ceasefire – but has changed its stance in recent weeks.
Now when will they put it to vote.
Negotiations are going nowhere
Hamas outlines prisoner exchange deal in truce proposal: Report
Hamas has submitted a new two-stage proposal that includes the release of Israeli captives in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences, according to a Reuters report.
In the proposal seen by the news agency, Hamas said the initial release of Israelis would include women, children, the elderly and ill captives in exchange for the release of 700-1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The release of Israeli “female recruits” is included.
Hamas also reportedly said it would agree on a date for a permanent ceasefire after the initial exchange, and that a deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would be agreed upon after the first stage. It added all detainees from both sides would be released in a second stage of the plan.
Al Jazeera has reached out to several Hamas officials for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Israeli PM: Hamas ceasefire demands ‘unrealistic’
In a post on X, the Israeli prime minister’s office said Hamas was “continuing to hold to unrealistic demands”. There has been a renewed push for a truce between Israel and Hamas amid the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Israel has reportedly agreed to a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of some of its captives still in Gaza. But Hamas has insisted it will only take a deal that comes with a “permanent ceasefire” and a full Israeli troop withdrawal.
Hamas proposal is ‘flexible and forthcoming’
Mustafa Barghouti, the secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, says the new Hamas proposal for a deal in Gaza is “much more flexible and forthcoming” compared with the previous ones. “They made compromises about the number of prisoners to be released and the main goal is to make a block deal that includes everything,” he told Al Jazeera. “That ends with the Israeli occupation of Gaza and release of substantial number of political prisoners.”
According to Barghouti, the most significant area of dispute in the negotiations involves the future status of the displaced people in Gaza.
“Hamas and the resistance movement insist people who have been evicted by force from their homes will be allowed to go back to the north,” he said. “Israel wants to discriminate [against them]. They want to allow women and children, but not men, and cut every family into two pieces, which is, of course, unacceptable.”
The Palestinian official stressed that “the ball is now in the yard of Prime Minister Netanyahu”. “I believe he will make every possible obstacle to prevent this deal from taking place, because this man, once the war is over, will be going to prison,” he said.
In the first stage, Israeli forces would withdraw beyond Salah al-Din Street near Gaza City in central Gaza to enable some of the displaced people to return home. Hamas would release a female Israeli reservist held captive in Gaza for every 50 Palestinian prisoners set free by Israel.
The second stage would consist of a permanent ceasefire to be announced before Hamas releases any captive Israeli soldiers. In the final stage, the group proposed the end of Israel’s siege on Gaza and the beginning of reconstruction efforts.
