Latest Israel/Hamas hostage negotiations

[traybakebiscuits]

Hamas responds to proposed hostage deal

What’s happened:? After a nearly two-week delay, Hamas has finally responded to the latest proposed hostage deal.
• According to Reuters and Israeli media reports, Hamas has proposed a three-stage ceasefire plan, each lasting 45 days:
o Stage one would see all Israeli female hostages, males under 19, the elderly and sick released in exchange for Palestinian women and minors still held in Israeli prisons. Israel would allow for the reconstruction of hospitals, with the IDF withdrawing from populated areas of the Strip.
o In the second phase, all Israeli male hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
o In the third stage, Hamas would release the bodies and remains, presumably in exchange for more prisoners.
• According to Reuters, Hamas added “an addendum to the proposal that it wished for the release of 1500 prisoners, a third of whom it wanted to select from the a list of Palestinians handed life sentences by Israel.”
• Israel’s Prime Minister Office confirmed that the Mossad had received Hamas’s response through Qatari mediators and was reviewing the proposal.
• US President Joe Biden responded by calling Hamas’s answer “a little over the top.”
• According to the latest IDF assessment, at least 31 of the 136 hostages held in Gaza are no longer alive. According to the New York Times, another 20 have also been killed.

I hope that a deal can be reached that will result in Palestine being able to rebuild, safely, without Israeli forces still being there.

Copied below, for those without Twitter (X)
https://twitter.com/NaksBilal/status/1755201964852265466

Hamas has released in full its response to the Paris Framework Agreement drafted by Qatar et al for a ceasefire.

They likely done so to circumvent the ensuing misinformation that will circulate in the media, as Israel is likely to reject it, and to generate public convo.

The Response outlines a roadmap to a full ceasefire that would take place over 135 days in three phases, each stage lasting 45 days.

The text of the document is copied verbatim below.

The guarantors of the Agreement are:

• Egypt - Qatar - Turkey - Russia - The United Nations

Phase 1: 45 Days

This humanitarian Phase aims to:

• Release all Israeli women and children (under the age of 19, non-recruits), the elderly and sick, in exchange for a specific number of Palestinian prisoners.
• Increasing humanitarian assistance. - Repositioning forces outside populated areas.
• Allowing the start of reconstruction of hospitals, houses and facilities in all areas of the Strip. - Allowing the United Nations and its agencies to provide humanitarian services.
• Establishing shelter camps for the population. This will accordingly take place along the following:
• Temporary cessation of military operations. - Cessation of aerial reconnaissance.
• Repositioning of Israeli forces away from the populated areas in the entire Gaza Strip.
• That is, repositioning of Israeli forces away so that they are aligned to the border, in order to enable the parties to complete the exchange of detainees and prisoners.
• Start (indirect) discussions on the requirements for the restoration of full peace.

[My note: This is key shift in Hamas trying to meet Israel & US half way, attempting to secure a full ceasefire agreement within the period of implementing this initial Phase]

• The annex [below] attached to the details of the First Phase is an integral part of this agreement, provided that the details of the Second and Third Phases are agreed upon during the implementation of the First Phase.

Phase 2: 45 Days

• The (indirect) talks on the necessary requirements to continue the cessation of mutual military operations and return to a state of full peace must be completed and announced before the implementation of the Second Phase.

This Phase aims to:

• Release all male detainees (civilians and recruits), in exchange for specific numbers of Palestinian prisoners.
• [See] continuation of humanitarian measures from the First Phase.
• [See] the exit of Israeli forces outside the borders of all areas of Gaza.
• [Begin] the start of comprehensive reconstruction of houses, facilities and infrastructure that were destroyed in all areas of the Gaza Strip, according to specific mechanisms to ensure the implementation of this.
• [See] the end of the blockade on the entire Gaza Strip.

Phase Three: 45 Days This Phase aims to:

• Exchange the bodies and remains of the dead on both sides after reaching and identifying them.
• Continuing humanitarian procedures from the First and Second Phases.

Annex to the Framework Agreement

• Phase 1 Details:

• Complete cessation of military operations from both sides, [including] cessation of all forms of air activity, including reconnaissance, for the duration of this stage.
• Repositioning Israeli forces outside populated areas in the entire Gaza Strip, so that they they are along the borderline east and north, in order to enable the parties to complete the exchange of detainees and prisoners.
• The two parties shall release: Israeli detainees of women, children (under the age of 19 years, the elderly and the sick), in exchange for all prisoners in the occupation prisons of women, children, the elderly (over 50 years) and the sick, who were arrested until the date of the signing of this agreement without exception, in addition to 1,500 Palestinian prisoners, 500 of whom have life sentences and high imprisonment terms.
• Finalising necessary legal procedures that ensure that Palestinian and Arab prisoners will not be re-arrested, on the same charge they were arrested on.
• Mutual and simultaneous release shall be carried out in such a way as to ensure the release during this stage of all persons whose names are included in the previously agreed lists, and that the names and lists are exchanged before implementation.
• Improving the conditions of prisoners in the occupation prisons and lifting the measures and penalties adopted after 7/10/2023.
• Stop the incursions and aggression of Israeli settlers on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the return of the situation in the Al-Aqsa Mosque to what it was before 2002 [reducing settler visits to 5 a day].
• Increasing entry of necessary and sufficient quantities of needs for the population (at least 500 trucks) of humanitarian aid, fuel etc., on a daily basis, and allowing arrival of appropriate quantities of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Strip, especially the north.
• The return of displaced people to their places of residence in all areas of the Strip, and ensuring the freedom of movement of residents and citizens by all means of transport and not hindering them in all areas of the Gaza Strip, especially from the south to the north.
• Ensuring the opening of all crossings with the Gaza Strip, the return of trade and allowing the free movement of individuals and goods without obstacles.
• Lifting any Israeli restrictions on the movement of passengers, sick and wounded through the Rafah crossing. - Ensure that all wounded men, women and children are discharged for treatment abroad without restrictions.

Egypt and Qatar lead efforts with all the necessary authorities to manage and supervise to ensure, achieve and accomplish the following issues:

1. Providing sufficient heavy equipment necessary to remove rubble.
2. Providing civil defense equipment, and the requirements of the Ministry of Health.
3. The process of reconstructing hospitals and bakeries in the whole Strip and carrying out what is necessary to establish population camps/tents to shelter residents.
4. The introduction of at least 60,000 temporary housing (caravans/continarts) so that every week from the entry into force of this phase 15,000 houses are made in the Gaza Strip, in addition to 200,000 shelter tents, at a rate of 50,000 tents every week, to shelter those who homes were destroyed by the occupation during the war.
5. Starting the reconstruction and repair of infrastructure in all areas of the Strip, and the rehabilitation of electricity, communications and water networks.
6. Approving the plan to rebuild houses, economic facilities and public facilities destroyed by the aggression, and scheduling the reconstruction process in a period not exceeding 3 years.

• Resumption of all humanitarian services provided to the population in all areas of the Strip, by the United Nations and its agencies, especially UNRWA, and all international organisations working to start their work in all areas of the Gaza Strip, as it was before 7/10/2023.
• Resupplying the Gaza Strip with the necessary fuel to reconstitute the power plant and all public sectors.
• The occupation's commitment to provide Gaza with its electricity and water needs.
• Starting (indirect) talks on the necessary requirements for the continuation of the suspension of mutual military operations to return to a state of complete and mutual peace.
• The exchange process being closely linked to the extent to which the commitment to the entry of adequate aid, relief and accommodation mentioned and agreed upon has been achieved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68232883

Rejected by Netanyahu

@BackandForthRoundandRound Surely you agree that the only way for Palestinians to live a secure and settled life is for Hamas to be taken out of leadership. Its incredibly naive to think that their quality of life will be taken care of if Hamas are still governing Gaza.
Why wouldn't you add that to your hopes for the Palestinians?

I made a short post. You are now trying to jump on me about Hamas. I am sticking by what I posted...

I agree.

For the benefit of Palestinians and Israelis I hope Hamas and the whole Israeli government go where they belong : behind bars. And that future governments in both countries aren’t like them. Otherwise, they’ll never be peace in neither

Amen to that!

I hope that a deal can be reached to allow innocent hostages to return home

Oh no, not that go-to wannabe line....

As for the little dig, obviously hostages were included in what I said hence "I hope a deal can be reached...." So I'm unsure as to why you are quoting me....

@NerdWhoEatsMedlar "The guarantors of the Agreement are:

• Egypt - Qatar - Turkey - Russia - The United Nations"

Really?

Egypt - fair enough, they are a neighbour after all.

Qatar - country where at least one Hamas Leader is living in idle luxury.

Turkey - where do I start? They have a list of Human Rights Abuses as long as your arm.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/turkey/report-turkey/

They still deny the Armenian Genocide.

(The Armenians had no political representation. The government massacred 300,000 Armenians to dissuade them from asking for government representation.
1908 - The Young Turks seized power by overthrowing the Sultan. They initially preached equality but soon became extreme nationalists and started the massacres.)

Russia - this has to be a joke.

The UN - a toothless watchdog.

If I was Netanyahu I'd be a bit sniffy if I was presented with that bunch of warmongers and abusers.

I didn't write it @traybakebiscuits
"The guarantors of the Agreement are:

• Egypt - Qatar - Turkey - Russia - The United Nations"

I agree Egypt as a neighbour is a natural.

Qatar - if we want the hostages back, someone needs to talk to Hamas and Qatar seem a natural for this.

Turkey - I wouldn't bring Armenians into this too much, the current settler violence in East Jerusalem and the history is a whole other thread.
Erdogan and Netanyahu are both shrewd and ruthless politicians, they are well suited to be seated opposite each other.

Russia - Israel and Russia were reasonable buddies before the current conflict. Note Israel's total lack of support of Ukraine. Netanyahu even used billboards of him and Putin in the 2019 election campaign. They both have an interest in stabilising relations.

The UN - this brings in the rest of the world as witnesses.

Remember Israel has the US as a guarantor and you don't really get more powerful than that. Russia balances the super power element and Turkey balances the NATO membership.

I'm not going to say I think it a wonderful choice. However, I think it a sensible list to try and achieve the aim of returning the hostages and calming the situation without everything escalating into a much wider conflict.

@NerdWhoEatsMedlar I didn't write it

I never said you did !

Having read the terms presented by Hamas, I am a bit on the fence.

1,500 Palestinian prisoners, 500 of whom have life sentences and high imprisonment terms.

While many Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israel without just cause, many are held on very legitimate charges including murder and terrorism. If Hamas gets to handpick prisoners for release (with assurance that they cannot be rearrested for the same charge), surely they would take back war criminals to further incite massacres against Israel as is the explicit goal in their charter?

Those held on false charges obviously need to be released, and frankly, compensated for their treatment and losses. But there are some who are rightfully imprisoned and should remain that way (treated humanely, as Israel would treat it's own detainees).

I absolutely do not support Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir. I don't believe they want a ceasefire, even one that goes both ways. But I don't think they could have accepted those terms even if they wanted to.

@MooseBreath yes I agree with you on that.
It was a ridiculous demand of Hamas to ask for that and I didnt think Netanyahu would agree. But I think I was hoping for a counter proposal which would secure the release of hostages and lead a path towards the end of the war. I think the US were hoping that Hamas would accept a temporary truce and that once the hostages were released then they would push for a full ceasefire.
I have read that negotiations with Hamas, Egypt and Qatar are going to continue today so hoping that this is not a dead end for the sake of all innocent people suffering and that a resolution can be reached.

A counter-proposal would be ideal. But considering this took months to bring to the table, I wouldn't be surprised if time is taken to create a counter, simply as a power play.

Agree @MooseBreath an over ask, but that is how negotiations work. Both sides asks for too much and hopefully a middle ground is found.

I have seen it mentioned this morning that one option from the Israeli government is to allow Yahya Sinwar and other Hamas leaders go into exile and an end to the Hamas government in exchange of hostages. It doesn't mention if this includes the end to the war.
This was on sky news but it doesn't mention any names of the Israeli officials who have said this so I don't know if its a verified proposal.

Also mentioned here.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-israel-open-to-allowing-sinwar-to-go-into-exile-in-return-for-all-hostages-end-of-hamass-gaza-rule/

@NerdWhoEatsMedlar I understand that. I just don't see the leadership on either side showing any capability of compromise. Bringing forth a demand as unreasonable as the one Hamas did means they aren't willing to consider that their actions against Israel have been wrong. The illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are another sticking point; the Israeli government's refusal to dismantle or acknowledge the settlements on Palestinian land as ethically wrong means they are hell bent on furthering their own agenda regardless of the cost.

@Parkingt111 I'm not sure I understand what the exile of Sinwar would do. Surely another member of Hamas would be appointment to lead Gaza? I mean, I'm all for getting rid of Sinwar, but I don't see how it would cease Hamas' rule.