A regional TV network said on Sunday that Egypt had drafted a staged agreement to end hostilities between Israel and Hamas and free more captives detained by the Palestinian Islamist organization.
A Hamas team and Egyptian officials discussed a three-phase effort during earlier this week’s negotiations in Cairo, according to a report published online by Saudi-owned Asharq News, which cited people with direct knowledge of the discussions.
According to the sources, the first phase consists of a two-week ceasefire during which Hamas would free 40 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and sick elderly people.
In exchange, Israel would cease hostilities, allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, and free 120 Palestinians belonging to the same categories from its prisons.According to the source, the second phase suggests Palestinian discussions backed by Egypt to put an end to intra-Palestinian “division” and establish a technocratic Palestinian government to rule Gaza and the West Bank.
According to reports, the third and final phase calls for the release of all Israeli military detainees held by Hamas and other Palestinian organizations in exchange for the release of Palestinian inmates detained in Israel through a “comprehensive” agreement.
In the third phase, Israel will also leave the Gaza Strip and permit the displaced Gazans to return to their previous homes within the enclave.
The channel added that the suggestion will be discussed by the Hamas political bureau in Qatar.
Neither Egypt nor Hamas, which Israel considers to be a terrorist organization, have responded as of yet.According to the group, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, headed a delegation that visited Cairo earlier this week to hold discussions with Egyptian officials.
A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached last month with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt, which also made prisoner exchanges possible.
Egypt has served as a mediator in earlier disputes between the Palestinians and Israel, and it was the first Arab nation to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979.
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