What we know so far about draft Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal
WORLD 28 February 2024 - 22:00
The Guardian carries an article about agreements on fighting, hostage and prisoner releases and aid in Gaza, Caliber.Az reprints the article.
The US president, Joe Biden, said he hoped a deal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release could be reached by March 4, as negotiators for Israel and Hamas try to pin down the terms of a draft agreement.
What do we know about the draft?
The framework for a halt to fighting was drawn up in Paris, at meetings with envoys from Qatar, the US and Egypt, and has now been presented to Hamas. It envisions a 40-day break in fighting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which will start around March 10.
Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and an increase of aid supplies into Gaza, as well as equipment and fuel to start rebuilding. Palestinian women, children and elderly people would be allowed to return to the north of the strip.
One reason for Biden’s optimism may have been Israel’s reported agreement to release high-profile Palestinian prisoners convicted of major terrorism charges as part of the deal. Under a US proposal, 15 of these prisoners would be exchanged for five female Israeli soldiers, the New York Times reported.
These releases would face heavy scrutiny in Israel, but the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is under heavy domestic pressure to do more to secure the release of hostages, which may nudge him towards compromise.
Hamas leaders too appear to be softening their stance. After a first ceasefire and hostage release deal collapsed at the start of December, the group has repeatedly said it would release remaining hostages only as part of a permanent truce.
The agreement drawn up in Paris envisages continuing talks for a long-term arrangement, but initially just a 40-day break in fighting.
What does it say?
The main terms of the draft deal, as reported by Reuters, are as follows:
Ceasefire: Both sides would stop all military operations. Israel would move its troops away from densely populated areas and halt drone surveillance for eight hours every day.
Hostage release: Hamas would release 40 Israeli hostages. Those set to be released include women, children and young adults under 19 years of age, people over 50 and the sick. Men of military age would not be covered in this deal.
Prisoner release: In return, Israel would release 400 prisoners, in a ratio of 10 for every freed hostage. This is a much higher ratio than under the last ceasefire deal, when three prisoners were released for every freed hostage.
Aid and reconstruction: Israel would allow 500 trucks a day of humanitarian aid into Gaza, along with 200,000 tents and 60,000 caravans to house the displaced.
Fuel and equipment to rebuild hospitals and bakeries would be allowed into Gaza and Hamas would promise not to use this to threaten Israel.
Will the deal be agreed?
Despite signs both sides may be open to compromise, officials from Israel, Hamas and Qatar – a key intermediary in talks – said significant differences remained and a deal was still a long way off.
A Hamas official said Biden’s comments were “premature” and did not reflect the situation on the ground, Reuters reported. An Israeli website, Ynet, quoted senior Israeli officials saying they did not understand why Biden seemed so confident about the deal.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said there had been no breakthrough, as Israel and Hamas could not reach agreement on the main issues, though he added the country was “upbeat and optimistic” about mediation prospects.
What happened to the last ceasefire deal?
A previous deal, in November 2023, lasted seven days before collapsing in acrimonious accusations of bad faith from both sides.
Under that agreement 105 civilians were released by Hamas, 81 of which were Israeli women and children. Hamas also released 23 Thai nationals and one Filipino.
Israel released 240 prisoners in exchange. Of those, 107 were children, 66 were 18-year-old teenage boys, and another teenager who had turned 19 in prison. The rest were women. Three-quarters had not been convicted of any crime.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Phantom arms deal: How false claims aim to derail Baku-Tehran diplomacy Azerbaijan embraces "forewarned is forearmed" principle
25 July 2024 - 15:34
|
2
|
Could France’s anti-NATO rhetoric trigger domestic turmoil? Leftist Mélenchon's stance sparks historical echoes
24 July 2024 - 10:24
|
3
|
Azerbaijan: The new powerhouse of aluminium production amid global market strain "Green" era's requirement
25 July 2024 - 17:05
|
4
|
Brussels' bait and Yerevan's rush to swallow it The visa-free temptation
24 July 2024 - 09:00
|
5
|
West-backed Armenia likely to spark conflict with Azerbaijan rather than seek peace Caliber.Az reveals expert prognoses
25 July 2024 - 11:10
|
Japan addressing increasing incidents of customer harassment
Service culture under strain27 July 2024 - 03:05
Swiss spots struggle with social media-driven visitor impact
Tourism vs. nature27 July 2024 - 01:03
German chancellor tackles EU expansion, internal reform challenges
Path forward26 July 2024 - 23:03
Italian newspaper explores Azerbaijan's ancient Albanian churches
26 July 2024 - 21:08
Azerbaijani prosecutor general declares ties with Türkiye as strategic partnership
PHOTO26 July 2024 - 20:55
Azerbaijan, Italy strengthening military relations
PHOTO26 July 2024 - 20:42
China demands withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe
26 July 2024 - 20:29
Pentagon concedes to spreading anti-Sinovac propaganda in Philippines
26 July 2024 - 20:16
COP29 presidency team hosts events to tackle key climate agenda issues
26 July 2024 - 20:03
Israel targets Türkiye’s TRT Haber team covering Al-Aqsa mosque incident
26 July 2024 - 19:51
COP20 president: Azerbaijan should lead with ambition at COP29
26 July 2024 - 19:38
Turkish defence minister, Azerbaijani ambassador discuss strengthening military ties
26 July 2024 - 19:25
FBI seeking to interview Trump as part of assassination attempt investigation
26 July 2024 - 19:12
US presidential candidate cites potential path to victory with Biden out of race
26 July 2024 - 18:58
Turkish MP confirms plans for official Azerbaijani school in Istanbul
26 July 2024 - 18:44
US vice president’s call for peace in Gaza sparks controversy with Israel
26 July 2024 - 18:30
FM: Italy to appoint ambassador to Syria after 10 years
26 July 2024 - 18:17
Head of Georgian Parliament blames opposition for compromising national safety
Aid to Ukraine at Georgia’s expense26 July 2024 - 18:03
South Caucasus on edge: West fuels Armenia's war drums
Yerevan clings to deceitful rhetoric26 July 2024 - 18:02
Media: Iran arms Hezbollah with advanced weapons
26 July 2024 - 17:49
Bolsonaro intends to run for Brazilian presidency in 2026, citing confidence in winning
26 July 2024 - 17:36
Armenian PM visits modernised Margara checkpoint on Turkish border
VIDEO26 July 2024 - 17:22
Boeing considers to convert its top fighter into an electronic warfare jet
Caliber.Az on YouTube26 July 2024 - 17:17
Belarus ready to expand cooperation with North Korea
26 July 2024 - 17:09
EU appoints new special representative for South Caucasus
26 July 2024 - 17:01
Azerbaijani-Chinese partnership defies "first among equals" attitudes
Rising above geopolitical cynicism26 July 2024 - 16:55
Armenia's militarization: A "peace agenda" with an armed approach
Yerevan must revisit recent historical lessons26 July 2024 - 16:42
Azerbaijan approves cooperation pacts with Türkiye, Kazakhstan
26 July 2024 - 16:33
Media: US informs Iran of readiness to return to nuclear deal
26 July 2024 - 16:29
Turkish forces take down PKK terrorists in coordinated Iraq and Syria raids
VIDEO26 July 2024 - 16:16
Israeli air strikes hit Hezbollah outposts in response to rocket fire
26 July 2024 - 16:03
Kremlin spox: EU ridicules Orban over Moscow visit
26 July 2024 - 15:51
Armenian parliamentary delegation visits Georgia to strengthen bilateral ties
26 July 2024 - 15:38
Washington talks peace while arming Yerevan
26 July 2024 - 15:38
Travellers from 13 nations explore rebuilding of Karabakh, East Zangazur
PHOTO26 July 2024 - 15:25
European Commission transfers €1.5 billion from frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine's defence
26 July 2024 - 15:25
Trump says US to destroy Iran in case of his assassination
26 July 2024 - 15:12
Kremlin declares dialogue with West futile amid hostility toward Russia
26 July 2024 - 14:59
Somalia, Azerbaijan share common positions on many international forums
Minister’s statement26 July 2024 - 14:46
Azerbaijan promoting tourism potential in India
PHOTO26 July 2024 - 14:33