Revised peace plan states captive talks will begin in 16-day period after first phase: Report
A revised proposal on a captives-for-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas states that negotiations on the release of Israeli captives still held in Gaza, including soldiers, will begin in a 16-day period after the first phase of talks, the Reuters news agency reports.
The Reuters news agency reports, citing an anonymous senior Hamas source, that the revised proposal also states that mediators will guarantee a temporary ceasefire, aid delivery and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza as long as talks are ongoing to implement the second phase.
The Hamas official also said that a captive release deal will be finalised before the end of the fifth week of the second phase. Recent discussions mark a renewed effort to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza, after talks ground to a halt in late June.
The deal currently being discussed is a three-phase proposition, supposedly tabled by Israel and made public by US President Joe Biden in May.
A ‘real chance’ of achieving peace deal, according to Palestinian, Israeli officials
The latest peace proposal could lead to a framework agreement and an end to the war between Israel and Hamas if it’s embraced by Israel, an anonymous official from the Palestinian group has told the Reuters news agency.
An anonymous source in Israel’s negotiating team also told Reuters that there’s now a real chance of achieving an agreement.
Hamas has reportedly dropped its demand that Israel commit to a permanent ceasefire before it signs the deal, and would now allow negotiations throughout the six-week first phase to achieve a permanent end to fighting, a Hamas official told Reuters.
Earlier, we reported that the revised ceasefire proposal states that mediators will guarantee a temporary ceasefire, aid delivery and the withdrawal of Israeli troops as long as talks are ongoing to implement the second phase of the three-phase deal.
Hamas drops key demand for Gaza truce: Report
Hamas has given initial approval for a US-backed proposal for a phased truce deal in Gaza, dropping a key demand that Israel gives an upfront commitment for a complete end to the war, according to a Hamas and an Egyptian official quoted by The Associated Press news agency.
The reported compromise by the Palestinian group could help deliver the first long-term pause in fighting since last November and set the stage for further talks on ending the devastating war.
The two officials, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, told the agency that the deal will include a “full and complete” six-week ceasefire that would see the release of a number of captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
During these 42 days, Israeli forces would also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and allow the return of displaced people to their homes in northern Gaza as the second phase of the deal is negotiated, the two officials reportedly said.
