Hamas and the U.S. Ceasefire Plan: A Partial Agreement with Demands
Ceasefire proposal partially accepted by Hamas per US terms - Hamas Consents to Partial US-brokered Truce
In a surprising turn of events, the militant group Hamas has shown some flexibility towards the ceasefire proposal put forth by U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff. While they've agreed to certain aspects, there are others they've flat-out rejected. A statement, shared on their Telegram channel, outlined their response.
The agreement, as per Hamas, entails a partial release of Israeli hostages, in return for the release of Palestinians currently imprisoned by Israel. The Witkoff plan calls for the transfer of 10 hostages and the remains of 18 more victims to Israel during a proposed 60-day ceasefire. It's estimated that around 20 to 23 living hostages and at least 35 bodies of those abducted are in Hamas' custody at the moment.
Reservations about the Ceasefire Plan
The Witkoff plan outlines that both parties will negotiate the release of the remaining hostages during the 60-day ceasefire, in exchange for an end to the conflict. However, Hamas has made it clear that they want a firm commitment towards a permanent ceasefire, which has been a top priority for them. Sources close to the group have shared with the news agency dpa that "guarantees against the resumption of aggression" are non-negotiable for Hamas.
The Israeli government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has vehemently rejected any ceasefire that would result in the release of all hostages and an end to the war. Critics suggest the government wants to prolong the conflict for domestic political reasons.
The Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The partial agreement to release hostages seems to be a move by Hamas in response to their significant losses during the war and the grave humanitarian crisis looming over the densely populated Gaza Strip. The group is also articulating several demands to modify the Witkoff plan. They want a more extensive timeline for hostage releases than what is outlined in the U.S. mediator's document, and they also insist on a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
- Gaza
- Hamas
- Steve Witkoff
- Ceasefire
- Israel
- Gaza Strip
- USA
- Islamic Resistance Movement
Insights:
- Hamas has proposed a hostage exchange involving the release of 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
- Hamas is insisting on a complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the Gaza Strip as part of the ceasefire agreement.
- The group is seeking a permanent ceasefire and ensuring the continuous flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- Hamas suggested the establishment of an "independent committee of technocrats" to administer Gaza's affairs after a permanent ceasefire, which would involve them relinquishing some of their governing authority in the Strip. However, this suggests has faced opposition from Witkoff and Netanyahu.
The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the ceasefire programme to include discussions on ensuring a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, focusing on war-and-conflicts and politics. Furthermore, the proposed programme should include exploring methods to facilitate a full Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, to address the general-news concerning the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
