Hamas approves Gaza peace proposal, hostage exchange with Israel | Israel-Palestine Conflicts News

Hamas says it has agreed to a proposal to end the war in Gaza and exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

A Palestinian armed group on Wednesday told Al Jazeera Arabic that its delegation presented its ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal to mediators. Israel has yet to announce a response to the proposal.

The news comes after negotiators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt reported that a deal that could end Israel's 15-month war in Gaza is closer than ever and could be completed soon, but nothing is guaranteed. They said the deal could be implemented “immediately” after signing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene his Cabinet on Thursday, according to Israeli media reports.

The proposed deal will take place in three phases, Reuters news agency reported, citing an official briefed on the talks. In the first six-week phase, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from central Gaza and Palestinians will be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza.

Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages in those six weeks, including all female soldiers and civilians, children and men over 50, Reuters reported. Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for each prisoner freed and 50 Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli soldier.

The second phase of negotiations will begin on the 16th day of the first phase, and is expected to include the release of the remaining hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The third phase was expected to include the return of bodies and the start of reconstruction in Gaza, Reuters reported.

Netanyahu held a meeting on Wednesday with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz. After the meeting, Smotrich released a video, saying, “There is only one thing before my eyes, and that is the fulfillment of all the goals of the war.”

Both Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have been staunchly opposed to the deal, and threatened this week to quit the government if it is passed. Ben-Gvir met with several Knesset members on Wednesday.

Earlier, Israel said that the main purpose of its war is to “destroy” Hamas and to obtain the release of its captives who are still being held in Gaza. It later added returning its citizens to their homes in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon as a third goal.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that Hamas has almost hired new fighters as it has lost its war with Israel, adding that the group will not be defeated by “a military campaign alone”.

Washington also tried to rally its allies with the idea of ​​a “reformed” Palestinian Authority eventually taking over to prevent the resurgence of Hamas.

On Wednesday, representatives of some 85 countries met at Oslo's City Hall to discuss ways to move towards a two-state solution. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said it was time to talk about “what will happen after the ceasefire”.

Israeli families trapped in Gaza also held large protests in Tel Aviv and elsewhere on Tuesday night, demanding a deadline to reach an agreement.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Israeli news analyst Dan Perry said that the prospect of an end to the war is causing two main reactions in Israel: first, joy over the possible release of Israeli hostages and the end of the war and, second, concern that Hamas, despite the war. finished, it will remain in power.

“It is clear that if Israel withdraws from Gaza, Hamas will remain in power,” Perry said. “And for this, I think many would blame Netanyahu because there is an obvious alternative to Hamas in the form of the Palestinian Authority.”

'People die in an hour'

As a cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal appears to be nearing completion, the Israeli military is mounting a deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip.

At least 59 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Wednesday, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

The situation for the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza remains dire as air and ground attacks continue and most aid is blocked by Israel.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday that Israeli attacks since the start of the war had killed at least 46,707 Palestinians, up 62 from the previous day. The number of injured has risen to at least 110,265 people, he said.

The people of Gaza are watching what is happening in Doha, but at the same time, people are dying by the hour, said Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.

“When we hear more about the cease-fire agreement, the level of attacks increases, families are attacked and killed. In the last 72 hours, many people have been directed to shelters. “

They included a family targeted in an overnight attack in Deir el-Balah that killed at least 12 people, including children, and an air strike on the Bureij refugee camp, where Israeli bombs killed at least five people.

The Israeli army also ordered the forcible evacuation of new people, this time Palestinians living in the Jabalia neighborhood of northern Gaza, where a siege that has lasted more than 100 days so far has left more than 5,000 people dead or missing.

Israeli gunfire on Wednesday cut off electricity at a Gaza hospital in northern Gaza as attacks on health facilities continued after Israeli forces torched the Kamal Adwan Hospital last month and arrested its director.