Israel proposed a prolonged truce in Gaza in exchange for the return of about half of the remaining hostages, Israeli officials announced on Monday, while the army issued new evacuation orders and said that “intense operations” were provided in southern enclave.
The latest proposals would leave a final agreement on the end of the War of Israel-Hamas, which destroyed large expanses of Gaza, killed tens of thousands of people and moved almost the entire population since its beginning in October 2023.
The proposals provide for the return of half of the 24 hostages which would still be alive in Gaza, and about half of the 35 supposed to be dead, almost 18 months after their seizures by armed men led by Hamas. This new truce would last between 40 and 50 days, the Israeli officials said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would intensify pressure on Hamas, but would continue the “under fire” negotiations. Continuous military pressure was the best way to get the return of hostages, he said.
Netanyahu has also repeated Israeli requests for the disarmament of Hamas, although the Palestinian militant movement has rejected calls like a “red line” that he will not cross.
The Israeli Prime Minister said that Hamas leaders would be authorized to leave Gaza in a broader regulation which would include proposals from US President Donald Trump for the “voluntary emigration” of the narrow band Palestinians.
Evacuation orders
The Israeli army told Palestinians living in regions in the south of the city of Rafah on Monday to move an area on the shore.
“The FDI (Israeli Defense Forces) return to intense operations to dismantle the capacities of terrorist organizations in these areas,” the army’s Arab language spokesman said in a statement.
On weekends, Hamas said that it had accepted proposals made by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, which, according to security sources, would involve five hostages published each week in exchange for a truce.
The Israeli army, which reduced aid to Gaza, resumed operations on March 18 after a two -month truce, during which 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages were released in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The efforts to go to a second phase of the ceasefire agreement signed with the support of us in January have largely stalled, without any sign of movement to overcome the fundamental differences between the two parties on the post-war future.
Israel said that Hamas’ military and government capacities should be fully dismantled and affirms that the group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, can have no role in the future governance of the enclave.
Almost a month after Israel has imposed a complete blockade on the goods entering Gaza, families fast for the sacred month of Ramadan, say that finding food was a fight in the midst of supplies and arrow prices.
Hamas says it is ready to step back to allow another Palestinian administration to take its place, but has refused to disarm itself and says that it must play a role in the government’s choice.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza following an attack by armed men led by Hamas on Southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages in Gaza, according to Israeli tastes.
The military campaign has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
