DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza — Hamas has given initial approval to a U.S.-backed proposal for a gradual ceasefire agreement in Gaza, abandoning a key demand that Israel openly commit to ending the war completely, a Hamas official and an Egyptian official.
The apparent commitment by the militant group, which controlled Gaza before triggering war with an Oct. 7 attack on Israel, could help bring about the first pause in fighting since last November and lay the groundwork for new talks to end a devastating nine-month war. . But all sides warned that an agreement is not yet guaranteed.
The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, said Washington’s gradual agreement will first include a “full and complete” six-week ceasefire that would allow the release of several hostages, including women, elderly and wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. During these 42 days, Israeli forces would also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and allow displaced people to return to their homes in northern Gaza, the two said.
During that period, Hamas, Israel and the mediators would also negotiate the terms of the second phase that could see the release of the remaining male hostages, both civilians and soldiers, the officials said. In exchange, Israel would release more Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The third phase would see the return of the remaining hostages, including the bodies of dead captives, and the start of a year-long reconstruction project.
Hamas still wants “written assurances” from mediators that Israel will continue negotiating a permanent ceasefire agreement once the first phase takes effect, the two officials said.
The Hamas representative told The Associated Press that the group’s approval came after it received “verbal commitments and assurances” from mediators that the war will not resume and that negotiations will continue until a permanent ceasefire is reached. .
“Now we want these guarantees on paper,” he said.
Months of on-again, off-again ceasefire talks have stumbled over Hamas’s demand that any deal include an end to the war altogether. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered to pause the fighting but not end it completely until Israel achieves its goals of destroying Hamas’ military and governance capabilities and returning all hostages held by the militant group.
Hamas has previously expressed concern that Israel would restart the war after the hostages are freed. Likewise, Israeli officials have said they are concerned that Hamas will prolong the talks and the initial ceasefire indefinitely, without releasing all the hostages.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to requests for comment and there was no immediate comment from Washington.
On Friday, the Israeli prime minister confirmed that the head of the Mossad spy agency had made a whirlwind visit to Qatar, one of the key mediators. But his office said “gaps between the parties” remained.
Israel launched the war in Gaza after the Hamas attack in October, in which militants swept into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and kidnapping about 250.
Since then, the Israeli air and ground offensive has killed more than 38,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The offensive has caused widespread devastation and sparked a humanitarian crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of famine, according to international officials. Israel says Hamas is still holding about 120 hostages, about a third of whom are believed to have died.
In line with previous proposals, the deal would allow about 600 humanitarian aid trucks to enter Gaza daily – including 50 fuel trucks – and 300 would head to the worst-affected north of the enclave, officials said. Following Israel’s attack on the southernmost city of Rafah, aid supplies entering Gaza have slowed to a trickle.
Saturday’s news comes as Israel’s fighting and airstrikes in Gaza continue unabated.
In the central city of Deir al-Balah, funeral prayers were held for 12 Palestinians, including five children and two women, killed in three separate attacks in central Gaza on Friday and Saturday, according to hospital officials. The bodies of the dead were taken to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where they were counted by AP journalists.
Two of those killed in one of the attacks that hit the Mughazi refugee camp on Friday were employees of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the organization’s communications director told the AP. Juliette Touma added that a total of 194 UN agency workers have died due to the conflict since October.
Earlier this week, some 250,000 Palestinians were affected by an Israeli evacuation order in and around the southern city of Khan Younis. Most Palestinians seeking safety head to an Israeli-declared “safe zone” centered on a coastal area called Muwasi, or to the nearby city of Deir al-Balah.
Ground fighting has also raged in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City over the past two weeks, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Many took refuge in the Yarmouk Sports Stadiumone of the largest soccer stadiums on the strip.
—
Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
