Gaza Ceasefire Talks: Hamas Presents Proposal Outlining Hostage, Prisoner Exchange

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declared on Thursday that Hamas's latest ceasefire proposal remains grounded in what it terms "unrealistic demands".

Palestinians walk along a road at the Nuseirat area in the central Gaza Strip.

Source : PTI Images

Hamas submitted a ceasefire proposal concerning Gaza to mediators and the US, which includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, news agency Reuters reported on Friday obtaining some relevant documents.

According to the proposal, Hamas stipulates that the initial release of Israeli captives would prioritise women, children, the elderly, and the infirm, in return for the freedom of 700-1,000 Palestinians currently held in Israeli jails, including female detainees.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declared on Thursday that Hamas's latest ceasefire proposal remains grounded in what it terms "unrealistic demands," as reported by Reuters.

The office stated that an update on the matter would be presented to the war cabinet and extended security cabinet on Friday.

Efforts by Egypt and Qatar to bridge the divide between Israel and Hamas regarding the terms of a ceasefire continue amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where a quarter of the population faces the threat of famine, Reuters has reported.

Qatari officials refrained from immediate comment when approached by Reuters.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, speaking on Friday, outlined Egypt's objectives, aiming to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, enhance aid deliveries to the region, and facilitate the relocation of displaced Palestinians from the southern and central areas of the enclave to the north.

"We are striving to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, signifying a truce, alongside the provision of extensive aid," he informed attendees at Egypt's police academy, according to Reuters.

Sisi also cautioned against the perils of an Israeli incursion into Rafah, situated on the border with Egypt.

Five months into the conflict, Netanyahu's office disclosed in February that it had instructed the military to devise a strategy to evacuate Rafah and dismantle four Hamas battalions allegedly stationed there.

The prospect of an assault on Rafah, where many displaced individuals have sought refuge, has sparked international apprehension due to its potentially dire ramifications.

Hamas asserted that ceasefire discussions have stagnated in recent weeks due to Netanyahu's dismissal of their demands, which include a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the repatriation of displaced individuals from the enclave's south to its central and northern regions, and the intensification of unrestricted aid provisions.

In February, Hamas received a preliminary proposal from Gaza ceasefire deliberations in Paris, outlining a 40-day cessation of all military activities and the exchange of Palestinian detainees for Israeli hostages at a ratio of 10 to one, a proportion akin to the current ceasefire offer.