Hamas has offered to release all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a 135-day ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The terrorist organization made this offer to Israel on Tuesday in response. Preconditions They were sent by Egypt and Qatar last week. The three-phase plan would see Israeli hostages released in stages – women and children first – in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, including 500 Hamas lifers to choose from.
Male hostages over the age of 19 will be released after the first 45-day phase is completed. Israeli forces will withdraw completely from Gaza at the same time.
Notably, the agreement also specifically mentions UNRWA, with Hamas demanding that the organization maintain its role in overseeing aid to Gaza. The demand comes after Israel presented extensive evidence showing that there were at least 190. Associates of Hamas Within the United Nations group
Hamas has offered to release all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a 135-day ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. (Noor Photo/Corbis via Getty Images)
Israel has previously said it will not allow UNRWA to continue working in the region.
The agreement also stipulates that a permanent ceasefire should be implemented after the completion of the third phase of the agreement. However, the government of Israel has expressed its determination that the war will not end until the end of Hamas.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed it had received the offer late Tuesday, but did not issue a response.
President Biden says the latest offer of a hostage exchange by Hamas is “a bit over the top” in a statement on Tuesday. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani told reporters at a joint press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blanken that he was “optimistic” about the deal. However, President Biden called the offer “a bit over the top.”
“We’re not sure where this is going and we’re continuing to have conversations,” Biden said Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed it had received the Hamas offer late Tuesday, but did not issue a response. (Ahmed Hasabullah/Getty Images)
Blinken said during Tuesday Press conference Negotiations with Hamas will continue.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, but we believe that an agreement is possible and indeed necessary,” Blanken said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to achieve this.”