Hamas proposes three-phase ceasefire and calls for Israeli army’s departure from Gaza

Four months after the outbreak of war in Gaza, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is proposing a three-phase ceasefire, which would include the release of the hostages kidnapped on October 7, as well as a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. on a draft released at dawn.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed on Tuesday that he has received Hamas’s response to the ceasefire proposal from Qatar, the main mediator in the conflict, and is evaluating it, while US President Joe Biden stated that Hamas’ counteroffer is “a bit exaggerated”, without giving details of its contents.

The three phases They would last 45 days each, and in the firstthey would be released hostages “women and children (under 19 years old, non-military), the elderly and the sick, in exchange for a specific number of Palestinian prisoners,” reads the text via Telegram delivered to the mediators from Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday evening.

In the first phase of the three proposals, Hamas demands the withdrawal of the Israeli Air Force from the populated areas of the Gaza Strip, the arrival of more humanitarian aid and the beginning of the reconstruction of hospitals and homes, along with the establishment of camps. . temporary.

In turn, according to the text, “indirect talks” would be entered into with Israel to end the war and “return to complete peace,” a requirement that Israel has so far denied.

In a second podiumall kidnapped men would be released in exchange for a yet-to-be determined number of Palestinian prisoners, as well as a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Palestinian enclave.

In the third phaseAccording to the report, the lifeless bodies of at least 27 hostages and other deceased prisoners are being exchanged between Israel and Hamas.