While both sides are still making their demands, US President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, in a call on Tuesday, urged them “to demonstrate the necessary flexibility”according to the Egyptian presidency.
Qatar, the main mediating country with the United States and Egypt, said the negotiations were “at the final stage”THE “main problems” having been settled, without however specifying which ones. “We hope this will lead to an agreement very soon”said a spokesperson for Qatari diplomacy.
The release of hostages
According to two sources close to Hamas, 33 hostages should be released during the first phase of the agreement in progress, in exchange for a thousand Palestinians detained by Israel. The captives would be released “in groups, starting with children and women”according to one of them.
The Israeli government has confirmed that it is seeking the release of “33 hostages” during the first stage, and was ready to release “hundreds” Palestinian prisoners.
“Time is running out”
The ongoing talks in Qatar are taking place with Hamas and Israeli negotiators present in two separate rooms, according to a source close to the talks.
A total of 251 people were kidnapped during the attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 1,210 people on the Israeli side, the majority civilians, according to official data.
At least 46,645 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel’s military campaign of retaliation in the besieged Gaza Strip, which is in the grip of a humanitarian disaster, according to data from the Hamas Health Ministry deemed reliable by the Nations. united.
While Israel is increasing its deadly strikes in the territory, 61 people have died in 24 hours, according to the latest report from the ministry. The Israeli army said it had targeted “Hamas terrorists”.
In Gaza, Nadia Moustafa Madi, a displaced person, prays that“a truce be declared”. “I am ready to rebuild my life amid the rubble”she said.
Since the start of the war, only a one-week truce has been observed at the end of November 2023, the negotiations carried out since coming up against the intransigence of the belligerents.
But international pressure has increased for a ceasefire associated with the release of the 94 hostages still held in Gaza, 34 of whom have died according to the Israeli army. Especially after Donald Trump promised “hell” to the region if the hostages were not released before his return to power.
“Time is running out, the living hostages will eventually die. The dead hostages may be lost. We must act now”launched Gil Dickman, cousin of hostage Carmel Gat, during a rally Tuesday evening in Jerusalem.
Zone tampon
According to an Israeli official, negotiations for the second phase of the agreement will begin on the “16th day” after the first phase comes into effect. The second phase will concern the release of the last hostages, “either soldiers and men of age to be mobilized and (the return) of the bodies of dead hostages”according to the Times of Israel.
Hamas said it wanted “a clear and global agreement”. “We are close to the goal, but not there yet”said an Israeli official. Israel will not, however, leave “No Gaza until all the hostages are returned, the living and the dead”he stressed.
According to Israeli media, Israel must maintain a “buffer zone” in the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the agreement.
Israeli forces are expected to remain present until “800 meters deep in the territory, in an area going from Rafah in the south to Beit Hanoun in the north”according to a source close to Hamas.
According to Israeli commentators, Mr. Netanyahu ultimately decided to ignore pressure from his far-right ministers, hostile to a ceasefire.
“There is a real desire on our part to reach an agreement on the hostages”assured Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Rome. “If we succeed, we will have a majority in government that will support the agreement.”
Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken proposed on Tuesday sending an international security force to Gaza and placing the Palestinian territory under the responsibility of the UN.
He also estimated that the Palestinian Authority, which holds partial administrative authority in the occupied West Bank, should regain control of Gaza in the future.
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