OAN's Elizabeth Bolbelding
6:20pm – Monday, January 22, 2024
Two Israeli officials said Israel has proposed to Hamas, through Egyptian and Qatari mediators, a multi-step agreement calling for the release of all hostages still being held in Gaza in exchange for a two-month ceasefire. presentation.
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Monday's proposal is the longest ceasefire offered by Israel to Hamas since the war began. The proposal reportedly does not include an agreement to end the conflict completely.
If an agreement is reached, the deal would allow for the gradual return of hostages, both living and dead.
In the first phase, women and men over the age of 60 and hostages in critical condition will be freed, officials said. The next stage will see the bodies of female soldiers, non-combatants under the age of 60, male Israeli soldiers, and hostages returned to Israel.
Israel has reportedly indicated that the suspension period could last up to two months until each stage of hostage release is completed.
It is believed that more than 130 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza. Israeli authorities have said since the shooting took place on October 7th:th, several hostages died in captivity. The exact number of surviving hostages is unknown.
In addition to a ceasefire with Gaza, the proposed agreement would require Israel and Hamas to agree in advance on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released for each category of Israeli hostages.
Israeli officials also said that implementing the agreement would see Israel allow the gradual return of Palestinian civilians to Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) being redeployed from major population centers. Stated.
Israeli officials said the proposal makes clear that Israel will not agree to an end to hostilities or the release of all 6,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. However, Israeli authorities have announced that they are willing to release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners if Hamas agrees to the proposal.
Mediators from Qatar and Egypt have been trying for weeks to bridge the gap between the two parties in a bid to move negotiations closer to an agreement.
U.S. officials have said reaching such an agreement may be the only way to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.
President Biden supports a ceasefire, according to White House National Security Council Press Secretary John Kirby.
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