According to its leader Ismail Haniya, Hamas is examining a draft agreement with Israel that would lead to an exchange of hostages for prisoners and a longer ceasefire in the Gaza war. The Islamist group spread Hanija’s statements on its Telegram channel.
Accordingly, Hamas is open to discussions, provided these lead to an “end to (Israel’s) aggression.” Egypt also invited the Hamas leadership to the capital Cairo to discuss the framework conditions of the Paris draft.
The New York Times reported at the weekend, citing US government circles, that US negotiators had drawn up a draft based on proposals from Israel and Hamas. The deal could therefore stipulate that Hamas releases more than 100 hostages and that Israel suspends its military operation in the Gaza Strip for around two months.
This is how it could go
In a first phase, the fighting should be paused for 30 days, it was said. During this time, Hamas should release female, elderly and injured hostages. In parallel, both sides should negotiate a second phase in which Israeli men and soldiers taken hostage would be released in return for a further 30 days of ceasefire.
The number of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli custody is a solvable problem, it said. In addition, more aid supplies are to be delivered to the suffering population in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas abducted around 240 hostages to the Gaza Strip in its brutal attack on Israel on October 7th. An estimated 1,200 other people were killed in the massacre. Since then, Israel has launched a major ground and air offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to estimates, just over 130 people are still in the hands of the Islamists.
