There are currently conflicting reports about Qatar's agreement to a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Gaza Strip.
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| A residential area on Jalaa Street in Gaza City is in ruins. (Source: The Korea Times/AFP) |
On January 15, Xinhua news agency reported that according to a Palestinian official familiar with the ongoing negotiations in Doha, Qatar, Hamas has given the green light to the “ceasefire in exchange for hostages” deal, although further details need to be discussed. However, Hamas has not yet issued an official document expressing its stance.
If confirmed, it would be the biggest step forward yet toward ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
However, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the same day denied information that Hamas had agreed to the ceasefire proposal, stating that the movement "has yet to respond" to the document.
Meanwhile, on the same evening local time, Prime Minister Netanyahu also met with senior security officials to discuss the agreement. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said that the country really wants to reach an agreement.
Earlier, media reported that Israel and Hamas had agreed in principle to the draft ceasefire agreement proposed by Qatar.
The proposed deal would involve two phases. In the first phase, Hamas would release a number of Israeli hostages, including women, children, the elderly and humanitarian cases. In return, Israel would release dozens of Palestinian prisoners, withdraw troops from some areas of the Gaza Strip and allow displaced people to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
The terms of the second phase will be negotiated as the first phase is underway, and are expected to address broader issues including a full ceasefire, an Israeli withdrawal, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and a comprehensive prisoner exchange.
In addition, Israel will halt all air operations for 10 hours a day during the ceasefire and for 12 hours on hostage exchange days. The proposed agreement also stipulates that 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid will enter Gaza each day, including 50 trucks carrying fuel.
Reconstruction equipment will also be brought into Gaza during the 42-day ceasefire and at least 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents will be provided to those displaced in Gaza.
Israel and Hamas will engage in indirect talks before the 16th day of the ceasefire to iron out the details of the second phase of the deal and release the remaining hostages, mostly Israeli soldiers and civilians.
In the context of Israel and Hamas being likely to reach an agreement, on January 15, speaking during a visit to Norway, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa declared that "it will not be acceptable" for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to run the Gaza Strip in the future.
The Palestinian prime minister also called on the international community to maintain pressure on Israel after the ceasefire in Gaza so that it accepts the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thoa-thuan-ngung-ban-o-gaza-co-tin-hamas-da-gat-dau-israel-phan-nan-bat-vo-am-tin-301067.html
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