The terrorist movement Hamas has given its "positive" response to the US-proposed 60-day ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
As writes Times of Israel, citing an Arab diplomat from one of the mediator countries, the proposed deal will ensure the release of half of the 20 remaining living hostages: eight will be released on the first day, and two more on the 50th day. Approximately half of the bodies of the killed hostages will also be returned: five on the seventh day, another five on the 30th day, and another eight on the 60th day.
Although Hamas proposed to release all hostages at once, Netanyahu—under pressure from ultra-right coalition partners—chose a phased approach to maintain the possibility of resuming the war. Accordingly, Hamas demanded a more phased release to keep Israel at the negotiating table.
Despite the "positive response," it contains reservations on key issues, as Hamas seeks to prevent the resumption of war by Israel, lift restrictions on UN aid, and ensure a more significant withdrawal of IDF troops.
A source from Times of Israel explained that the terrorist group will not accept the current system, in which Israel strictly limits the amount of aid coming from the UN. Since Israel lifted the blockade of the Gaza Strip after 78 days, on average, less than 70 trucks with humanitarian aid enter Gaza daily. International organizations state that hundreds of trucks per day are needed to meet the acute need in the sector.
The terrorist group also demanded that the IDF retreat to the positions it held before the breakdown of the previous truce in March.
These reservations are likely to meet resistance from Israel, given that Netanyahu has insisted from the start that Israel must maintain the ability to resume hostilities, rather than agree in advance to a permanent truce. Jerusalem argues that ending the war will leave Hamas in power and allow it to regroup, although government critics argue that Israel has already sufficiently dismantled the terrorist organization.
Indirect negotiations in Doha may begin as early as Sunday. They are expected to be very complex, as reports suggest Israel fears that Hamas will try to increase the share of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for each hostage.
US President Donald Trump has been pushing for an agreement since June 24, when he brokered another truce between Israel and Iran, and earlier this week he expressed hope that a truce would be reached next week.
Photo: AFP