Channel 12 highlighted on Tuesday evening some of the main differences between the terms of the proposed truce and hostage agreement drawn up by Egypt and supported by Israel, transmitted to Hamas late last month, and the proposed (in Arabic) which Hamas published on Monday evening and which, according to it, constitutes its acceptance of a permanent ceasefire.
Israel rejected Hamas’ conditions and said they did not meet Israel’s vital demands.
Among the differences cited in the television report:
– The Hamas proposal calls for the release of 33 Israeli hostages, alive or dead, during the first 42-day phase of the three-phase deal, while the Israeli text requires the release of 33 living hostages. The hostages would also be released at a slower pace than in the Israeli-backed proposal: three hostages would be released on the third day, then three more every seven days.
– Hamas’ proposal removes the veto Israel demanded on the release of some Palestinian security prisoners and gives Hamas the right to choose who will be released.
– Hamas’ version increases the number of Palestinian security prisoners to be released in exchange for each hostage in the first phase.
– Hamas’ proposal provides for free movement of all Gaza residents to the north of the Strip, without the security checks required by Israel to prevent armed Hamas terrorists from returning.
The television report also claims that Hamas’ proposal requires Israel to announce the end of the war in the first phase of the agreement. In reality, the Hamas text calls for a cessation of Israeli military operations during the first phase and thereafter. Significantly, Hamas declared, shortly after presenting its response Monday evening, that it considered itself to have accepted the conditions for an end to the war, while the text supported by Israel and Hamas’ response both do two reference to the restoration of “lasting calm”.
– Another change between the two proposals, not highlighted in the television report, is that Hamas is demanding the release of all Palestinian security prisoners who were released as part of the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal and who have since been arrested again.
– Hamas’ proposal also does not specify the number of Palestinian security prisoners it would demand in the second phase of the deal, when remaining Israelis are released, but demands that Israel reach an agreement on this question in the middle of the first phase, before all the hostages from the first phase are released.
The TV report also said that Israelis were concerned Monday evening that the United States had given some sort of guarantee to Hamas, through mediators, that the deal would end the war. The Biden administration, for its part, reportedly responded that it considered Hamas’ proposal to be “a kind of counter-offer.” “Very tense discussions” between Israel and the United States continued Monday and today. Senior Israeli officials urged their American counterparts not to publicly support Hamas’ conditions. Finally, the outlet reports that Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, intends to reach a permanent ceasefire before all living hostages are released, because he fears being vulnerable to a possible Israeli strike targeted on him.
