The Palestinian group "Hamas" announced it had agreed to a three-phase deal for a ceasefire and a hostage-for-prisoner exchange. Israeli representatives said that the deal of this type, proposed by the mediators in the negotiations, was not acceptable to Israel because its parameters were softened. The USA, Qatar and Egypt are mediators in the negotiations, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Based on the details announced so far by Hamas officials, the deal proposal the Palestinian movement has accepted would include the following:
Phase one will cover a 42-day ceasefire period. During this time "Hamas" will release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians from Israeli prisons. Israel will partially withdraw its military from Gaza and allow free movement of Palestinians from south to north in the enclave.
Phase two will include a further 42 days of ceasefire with the aim of "restoring sustainable calm" in Gaza. According to an official familiar with the negotiations, "Hamas" and Israel have agreed to this wording in order to hold discussions on a permanent truce. In phase two, most of the Israeli military will complete its withdrawal from Gaza, "Hamas" will release Israeli reservists and some of the Israeli military it holds captive in exchange for Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails.
The third phase will include the exchange of bodies between the two countries and will also begin the reconstruction of Gaza according to the plan, which will be overseen by Qatar, Egypt and the UN. In the third phase, the complete Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip will end.
Hours after it was reported that "Hamas" has accepted the proposals of mediators in the negotiations on the cease-fire deal, Israel began attacking Palestinian movement targets in the eastern part of the southern city of Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's wartime cabinet unanimously decided to continue the military operation in Rafah to increase pressure on "Hamas" to release the hostages it is holding and to achieve the goals Israel has set for itself in this war.
At the same time, in a number of Israeli cities, demonstrations were held this evening in support of finding a negotiated solution to the release of the hostages held by "Hamas".
And in Washington, during a meeting with US President Joe Biden, King Abdullah of Jordan said that an Israeli attack on Rafah poses the risk of another mass death in this Palestinian city, Reuters and AFP reported, citing a statement from the Jordanian royal court.