Gaza Ceasefire Countdown: Latest Developments Unveiled
The Associated Press (AP) news agency has obtained a copy of a proposed ceasefire agreement, which has been confirmed as authentic by an Egyptian and a Hamas official. According to the AP report, the agreement still needs final approval from the Israeli Cabinet before it can be implemented.
The three-phase agreement is set to begin with the gradual release of 33 hostages, including women, children, elderly, and injured civilians, over a six-week period. In exchange, hundreds of Palestinian women and children currently imprisoned by Israel will be released.
Among the 33 hostages are five female Israeli soldiers, with each set to be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 Hamas members serving life sentences. The first phase of the agreement will also see the release of all civilian captives, and Israeli forces will withdraw from population centers in northern Gaza. Additionally, around 600 trucks of humanitarian aid are expected to enter the region daily during this phase.
However, key details of the agreement, including a formal ceasefire guarantee, remain unresolved. This leaves open the possibility of Israel resuming military action once the first phase is completed.
Israel is set to maintain control over the Philadelphia Corridor on Gaza’s border with Egypt during the initial phase, despite Hamas initially demanding its withdrawal. In a compromise, Israel will agree to withdraw from the Netzarim Corridor and establish a mechanism to monitor the return of Palestinians to the north of Gaza in terms of weapons.
It is important to note that the draft text of the agreement, obtained by the AP, has not yet been officially approved by the parties involved. Negotiations are ongoing in order to secure their consent.
