2024-01-21 17:15:00
An operation by the Israel Defense Forces on January 18, 2024, in which they destroyed the main Hamas military headquarters in Khan Younis (EFE/Israel Defense Forces)
The United States, Egypt and Qatar are pressuring Israel and Hamas to begin a phased diplomatic process leading to the end of hostilities and the return of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza, as a precursor to a comprehensive settlement agreement. peace for the region.
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As security sources revealed to The Wall Street Journal this Sunday, mediators have proposed a 90-day plan that would first suspend fighting for an unspecified number of days so that Hamas would first release all Israeli civilian hostages, while Israel would release in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, it would withdraw forces from Gaza, allow freedom of movement in the Strip and double the aid reaching the enclave.
In the second phase, Hamas would free Israeli female soldiers and hand over the bodies in its possession in exchange for further releases of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
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A third phase would involve the release of Israeli soldiers and men of fighting age who Hamas considers soldiers, according to Egyptian officials, while Israel would begin the “redeployment” of some of its units outside the current borders of the Gaza Strip.
A Khan Younis tunnel where Israeli captives were held by Hamas. (EFE/Israeli Army)
The plan also includes the creation of an international fund for the reconstruction of Gaza and security guarantees for Hamas political leaders, Egyptian sources told The Wall Street Journal, before taking the final step: talks for a permanent ceasefire. , the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and the relaunch of a process to create an independent Palestinian state.
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The initiative is still in an embryonic state and viewed with considerable suspicion by both Hamas and Israel, according to the WSJ.
However, people briefed on the talks said Israel and Hamas were at least willing to engage in talks once more following weeks of stalemate following the end of the latest ceasefire on Nov. 30. Negotiations will continue in Cairo in the coming days.
The “willingness of both sides to discuss the framework was a positive step. The mediators are now working to bridge the gap,” one of the people informed of the conversations told the American newspaper.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar see another hostage deal as the key to a prolonged end to the fighting.
In November, the lull in fighting lasted a week and was accompanied by an exchange of 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza for more than 300 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
US President Joe Biden sent the Coordinator of the US National Council for the Middle East, Brett Magurk, to Qatar and Egypt (Europa Press/Contact/Kyle Mazza)
As part of the new plan to negotiate an end to hostilities in Gaza, the Coordinator of the United States National Council for the Middle East, Brett Magurk, will begin a trip to Egypt and Qatar.
As confirmed by three sources close to the trip to the American portal Axios, McGurk would begin the trip this coming night in the direction of Cairo, to meet with the Egyptian Intelligence Minister, Abas Kamel, considered the great mediator of the talks, right now. paralyzed, between Israel and Hamas.
In Qatar, McGurk will meet with Prime Minister Mohamed bin Abdulrraman al Zani, according to the same Axios sources.
(With information from Europa Press)
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