2024-02-28 12:20:00
US President Joe Biden delivers a speech at the White House on February 8. Nathan Howard/Getty Images
After US President Joe Biden projected optimism regarding reaching a ceasefire deal with hostages in Gaza later this week, officials from Israel, Hamas and Qatar have distanced themselves from his comments.
While meetings are taking place, there are disagreements over “numbers, proportions and troop movements,” Majed Al-Ansari, spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said Tuesday, without giving further details. He is probably referring to the number of hostages released for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from parts of Gaza.
Earlier this week, CNN reported that Hamas had backed away from some key demands in negotiations for a deal and a pause in fighting in Gaza, bringing the negotiating parties closer to an initial agreement that might stop the fighting and free a group of Israeli hostages. according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
Reuters and Al Jazeera reported that Hamas was reviewing a draft proposal for an initial ceasefire that would last regarding six weeks, during which 40 Israeli hostages would be exchanged for 400 Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli official confirmed to CNN on Tuesday that the hope was that regarding 40 hostages would be freed in the initial stage of the deal, and that Israel was insisting that female soldiers be included in the group.
What a truce might look like: Teams from the United States, Egypt, Israel and Qatar met in Paris on Friday and in Qatar on Monday.
Those involved in the discussions said an agreement would likely be implemented in multiple phases. Once an initial agreement is reached, it might lead to a truce lasting up to six weeks, with the release of a group of Israeli hostages, including women, children, the elderly and the sick, in exchange for a smaller number of Palestinian prisoners. than Hamas had initially demanded.
During a truce, negotiations would take place on more sensitive issues, such as the release of male Israeli soldiers held hostage, Palestinian prisoners serving longer sentences, the withdrawal of IDF forces, and the permanent end of the war along with the so-called “morning following problems.”
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