By EFE
Feb 27, 2024, 12:44 PM EST
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas is studying a proposal to approve a truce in the Gaza Strip, in which there would be a 40-day ceasefire, as well as the exchange of an Israeli hostage for ten Palestinian prisoners, sources informed EFE this Tuesday. close to negotiations.
The announcement of the content of the draft truce comes while the Palestinian group continues negotiating in Doha with the mediators of the conflict to finalize the different thorny points that still remain to be able to announce a ceasefire that is expected to be declared, according to the United States, in the coming days.
The idea is that it will occur before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin on March 11.
According to Palestinian sources from the group in Egypt – the mediating country -, who requested anonymity, the proposal includes the release of all Israeli women, men over 50 years of age and children under 19 years of age in the hands of Hamas, as well as the sick, which In total there would be 40 hostages.
On the Israeli side, 400 Palestinian prisoners will be released and will not be rearrested, according to the source, who added that during this ceasefire “the gradual return of displaced civilians to northern Gaza will be allowed, with the exception of elderly men.” of military service.”
Always according to the source, since Hamas has not officially announced it so far, the draft includes the repair of hospitals and bakeries in Gaza and 500 trucks with humanitarian aid will also be allowed to enter daily.
Likewise, it was indicated that the proposal that emerged from the recent talks in Paris is “American” and its purpose is “to give the Israeli prime minister more time to prepare a new attack,” in reference to the possible offensive against the Palestinian town of Rafah. , in the extreme south of the Palestinian enclave and bordering Egypt.
Sources close to the talks in Doha told EFE that these negotiations “have witnessed great progress” to reach “a solid basis” on the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
For its part, a source close to Hamas told EFE that the Doha meetings are focused on identifying the Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners who must be released, as well as the conditions for a ceasefire and the gradual return of the Gazans. north of the Strip.
The informant indicated that the progress achieved so far has been possible thanks to Hamas “abandoning its demand for a permanent ceasefire” in exchange for the release of the hostages, but with the condition of implementing a six-week truce during the that talks to stop the war begin “as soon as possible.”
The Doha meetings are being held by groups of “experts and senior security officials” and are of a technical nature, according to the informants, who recalled that meetings between Intelligence chiefs took place in Paris over the weekend. from Qatar, Egypt, the United States and Israel.
Since the war began, Israel and Hamas only reached a one-week truce agreement in late November, which allowed the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
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