Lebanese report: Israel’s offer
would see partial IDF pullback
in 1st phase of deal
Egyptian mediators said to convey terms to
Hamas: 33 hostages to be released in initial 40-
day phase; all hostages ultimately to be freed,
with provisions for sustained calm in Gaza


The report by Lebanese outlet Al-Akhbar, the
latest news organization to claim to offer details
on the proposal, came after Egyptian mediators
conveyed the text of Israel’s offer to a Hamas
delegation in Cairo on Tuesday.
According to Al-Akhbar, the first stage of the deal
presented to Hamas would last 40 days, and
would include a staged withdrawal of Israeli
troops from parts of the Strip to allow the
movement of humanitarian aid and the return of
civilians to their homes.
The deal would provide for 500 trucks, including
50 fuel trucks, to enter the Gaza Strip each day,
and would include the delivery of supplies
designed to rehabilitate the Strip. Half of the
trucks each day would be earmarked for northern
Gaza, which has been largely cut off from the aid
entering via the south of the enclave since the
start of Israel’s ground operation.
At the same time, Israel would cease aerial
surveillance of the Strip for eight hours a day, or
10 hours on days hostages are released.


In return, Hamas would be required to release at
least 33 living captives — female civilians and
soldiers, children under the age of 19, the elderly,
the sick and the wounded. On day seven of the
deal, Hamas would provide the names of all
other living hostages beyond the 33.
Previous offers rejected by Hamas had included
the demand for 40 hostages to be released under
the same criteria, but this number was lowered
to 33 during the most recent round of
negotiations after Israel reportedly assessed that
some of the previously sought 40 hostages had
died in Hamas captivity.

For every female civilian and child released
during this phase of the deal, Israel would free
20 minors and female Palestinian security
prisoners, Al-Akhbar claimed. For every sick,
elderly and injured hostage released, Israel
would free 20 prisoners over 50 who are also sick
and injured, as long as they are not serving a
sentence of over 10 years.

Finally, for every female soldier released during
the first phase of the deal, Israel would free 20
Palestinian security prisoners serving a life
sentence, and another 20 serving 10 years at
most. The prisoners would be released either to
Gaza or abroad.
Should Hamas agree to the offer, it will be
allowed to provide a list of up to 20 security
prisoners that it wants Israel to release during
the first 40-day phase of the deal, although Israel
will retain a veto.
According to the report, Hamas would release
three captive women on the first day that the
agreement comes into effect, and then release
three more hostages every three days, until the
33rd day, with Israel releasing the corresponding
ratio of Palestinian security prisoners at the same
time.
On the 34th day of the deal, Hamas would be
required to provide a list of all remaining
hostages who fit the criteria for release.
The initial 40-day truce could then be extended,
with the agreement of both parties, in exchange
for the release of additional hostages.
A similar plan was implemented during a truce
in late November — the only one of the war —
which had originally only been expected to last
for four days but was extended to seven, bringing
about the release of 105 hostages in total.


As per the reported text of the offer drawn up in
Egypt, indirect negotiations between Israel and
Hamas would begin anew on the 16th day of the
truce, to set out an arrangement to restore
sustainable calm to Gaza over the second and
third stages of the deal.
As such, the exact details of the latter two stages
have yet to be defined and were only broadly
outlined in the Lebanese outlet’s report.
According to the report, the second stage of the
deal would last 42 days and involve completing
the agreed-upon arrangements for sustainable
calm. In exchange, Hamas would be required to
release the remaining Israeli male civilians and
soldiers, in exchange for a yet-to-be-specified
number of Palestinian security prisoners, and the
full withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza.
The third and final stage of the deal would again
last 42 days and Hamas would reportedly be
required to hand over the bodies of those who
were killed on October 7 or died in captivity, in
exchange for bodies of Palestinian security
prisoners who died in Israeli custody.
War erupted on October 7 when thousands of
Hamas-led terrorists burst into southern Israel in
a shock attack, overrunning military posts and
carrying out brutal massacres in multiple Israeli
communities. Some 1,200 people were killed in
the onslaught and 253 people were taken
hostage.
Israel has estimated that 129 of the hostages
seized on October 7 remain in Gaza — not all of
them alive — following the November truce. Four
hostages were released prior to that, and three
were rescued alive by troops. The bodies of 12
hostages have also been recovered, including
three mistakenly killed by the military. The IDF
has also confirmed the deaths of 34 of those still
in captivity.
In addition to the hostages seized on October 7,
Hamas has also been holding the bodies of fallen
IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since
2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera
Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are both
thought to be alive after entering the Strip of
their own accord in 2014 and 2015 respectively.



With regard to the terror group’s capabilities, the
deal offered via Egypt stipulated that Hamas must
refrain from reconstructing military
infrastructure or facilities in the future, and none
of the equipment or raw material imported for
the rehabilitation of Gaza may be used for
military purposes.

The text does not specify, however, how this
would be enforced.
The rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip would begin
during the first phase of the deal, starting with
the restoration of Gaza’s roads, electricity, water,
sanitation and communication infrastructure.
Preparations for a 5-year reconstruction plan for
Gaza’s homes and civilian infrastructure would
be completed during the second phase of the
deal, and construction would begin in the third
stage.
The Lebanese report largely dovetailed with
previous reports on the details of the possible
deal, including the staged structure of the
agreement and the requirement for talks aimed
at ending the war and allowing Gazan civilians to
return to the north of the country, both key
Hamas demands.
Speaking to the Times of Israel on Tuesday, an
Israeli official said one of the timelines under
discussion is a 10-week pause in fighting in
exchange for 33 living hostages.
Israel was also said to be examining the
possibility that Egypt, not Israel, would be
responsible for carrying out security checks for
Gazans moving back to the north of the Strip.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel on
Tuesday that Israel was expecting a Hamas
response to its offer by Wednesday evening


https://www.timesofisrael.com/lebanese-report-israels-offer-would-see-partial-idf-pullback-in-1st-phase-of-deal/

Hamas own counter deal that they say they agreed to for cease fire


Al Jazeera has obtained a copy of the Gaza
ceasefire proposal that Hamas said it
accepted on Monday. The deal, which was
put forward by Egypt and Qatar, would
come in three stages that would see an
initial halt in the fighting leading to lasting
calm and the withdrawal of Israeli troops
from the Palestinian territory.
The proposed agreement would also
ensure the release of Israeli captives in
Gaza as well as an unspecified number of
Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Israel has said that it does not agree to the
proposal but that it will engage in further
talks to secure an agreement – all while
pushing on with its assault on Gaza.
Meanwhile, the United States, which is
also involved in the negotiations, said it is
reviewing the Hamas response.
Here’s the text of the proposed deal:
Paper by the mediators in Egypt on May 5,
2024
The basic principles for an agreement
between the Israeli side and the
Palestinian side in Gaza on the exchange
of captives and prisoners between them
and the return of sustainable calm.
The framework agreement aims at: The
release of all Israeli captives in the Gaza
Strip, civilians or military, alive or
otherwise, from all periods, in exchange
for a number of prisoners held by Israel
as agreed upon, and a return to a
sustainable calm that leads to a
permanent ceasefire and a withdrawal of
Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, its
reconstruction and the lifting of the siege.
The framework agreement consists of
three related and interconnected stages,
which are as follows:
The first stage (42 days)
[Herein] a temporary cessation of military
operations between the two parties, and
the withdrawal of Israeli forces eastward
and away from densely populated areas to
a defined area along the border all along
the Gaza Strip (including Wadi Gaza,
known as the Netzarim Corridor, and
Kuwait Roundabout, as below).
All aviation (military and reconnaissance)
in the Gaza Strip shall cease for 10 hours a
day, and for 12 hours on the days when
captives and prisoners are being
exchanged.
Internally displaced people in Gaza shall
return to their areas of residence and
Israel shall withdraw from Wadi Gaza, the
Netzarim corridor, and the Kuwait
Roundabout:
On the third day (after the release of
three captives), Israeli forces are to
withdraw completely from al-Rashid
Street in the east to Salah al-Din Street,
and dismantle military sites and
installations in this area.
Displaced persons (unarmed) shall
return to their areas of residence and
all residents of Gaza shall be allowed
freedom of movement in all parts of the
Strip.
Humanitarian aid shall be allowed in
via al-Rashid Street from the first day
without any obstacles.
On the 22nd day (after the release of
half the living civilian captives in Gaza,
including female soldiers), Israeli forces
are to withdraw from the centre of the
Gaza Strip (especially the Netzarim/
Martyrs Corridor and the Kuwait
Roundabout axis), from the east of
Salah al-Din Street to a zone along the
border, and all military sites and
installations are to be completely
dismantled.
Displaced people shall be allowed to
return to their places of residence in
the north of Gaza, and all residents to
have freedom of movement in all parts
of the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian aid, relief materials and
fuel (600 trucks a day, including 50 fuel
trucks, and 300 trucks for the north)
shall be allowed into Gaza in an
intensive manner and in sufficient
quantities from the first day. This is to
include the fuel needed to operate the
power station, restart trade,
rehabilitate and operate hospitals,
health centres and bakeries in all parts
of the Gaza Strip, and operate
equipment needed to remove rubble.
This shall continue throughout all
stages.
Exchange of captives and prisoners
between the two sides:
During the first phase, Hamas shall release
33 Israeli captives (alive or dead),
including women (civilians and soldiers),
children (under the age of 19 who are not
soldiers), those over the age of 50, and the
sick, in exchange for a number of
prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention
centres, according to the following
[criteria]:
Hamas shall release all living Israeli
captives, including civilian women and
children (under the age of 19 who are
not soldiers). In return, Israel shall
release 30 children and women for
every Israeli detainee released, based
on lists provided by Hamas, in order of
detention.
Hamas shall release all living Israeli
captives (over the age of 50), the sick,
and wounded civilians. In return, Israel
shall release 30 elderly (over 50) and
sick prisoners for every Israeli captive,
based on lists provided by Hamas, in
order of detention.
Hamas shall release all living Israeli
female soldiers. In return, Israel shall
release 50 prisoners (30 serving life
sentences, 20 sentenced) for every
Israeli female soldier, based on lists
provided by Hamas.
Scheduling the exchange of captives and
prisoners between the parties in the first
stage:
Hamas shall release three Israeli
detainees on the third day of the
agreement, after which Hamas shall
release three other detainees every
seven days, starting with women as
much as possible (civilians and female
soldiers). In the sixth week, Hamas
shall release all remaining civilian
detainees included in this phase. In
return, Israel shall release the agreed-
upon number of Palestinian prisoners,
according to lists Hamas will provide.
Hamas will provide information about
the Israeli detainees who will be
released at this stage by the seventh day
(if possible).
On the 22nd day, the Israeli side shall
release all prisoners from the Shalit
deal who have been re-arrested.
If there are fewer than 33 living Israeli
detainees to be released, a number of
bodies from the same categories shall
be released to complete this stage. In
return, Israel will release all women
and children who were arrested from
the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023 –
provided this is done in the fifth week
of this stage.
The exchange process is linked to the
extent of commitment to the agreement,
including the cessation of military
operations, the withdrawal of Israeli
forces, the return of displaced persons,
as well as the entry of humanitarian
aid.
All necessary legal procedures to
ensure that freed Palestinian prisoners
are not re-arrested on the same charges
are to be completed.
The steps of the first stage above do not
constitute a basis for negotiating the
second stage. Punitive measures and
penalties that were taken against
prisoners and detainees in Israeli
prisons and detention camps after
October 7, 2023, are to be lifted and
their conditions improved, including
individuals who were arrested after
this date.
No later than the 16th day of the first
phase, indirect talks will begin between
the parties to agree on the details of the
second phase of this agreement, with
regard to the exchange of prisoners and
captives from both parties (soldiers and
remaining men), provided that they are
completed and agreed upon before the
end of the fifth week of this stage.
The United Nations and its agencies,
including UNRWA , and other
international organisations, are to
continue providing humanitarian services
across the Gaza Strip. This shall continue
throughout all stages of the agreement.
Infrastructure (electricity, water, sewage,
communications and roads) across the
Gaza Strip shall be rehabilitated, and the
equipment needed for civil defence
allowed into Gaza to clear rubble and
debris. This shall continue throughout all
stages of the agreement.
All necessary supplies and equipment to
shelter displaced people who lost their
homes during the war (a minimum of
60,000 temporary homes – caravans – and
200,000 tents) shall be allowed into Gaza.
Throughout this phase, an agreed-upon
number (not fewer than 50) of wounded
military personnel will be allowed to
travel through the Rafah crossing to
receive medical treatment, and an
increased number of travellers, sick and
wounded, shall be allowed to leave
through the Rafah crossing as restrictions
on travellers are lifted. The movement of
goods and trade will return without
restrictions.
The necessary arrangements and plans
shall be put in place for the reconstruction
of homes, civilian facilities, and civilian
infrastructure that was destroyed due to
the war, as well as arrangements to
compensate those affected, under the
supervision of a number of countries and
organisations, including: Egypt, Qatar, and
the United Nations.
All measures in this stage, including the
temporary cessation of military
operations, relief and shelter, withdrawal
of forces, etc., shall continue in the second
stage until a sustainable calm (cessation of
military and hostile operations) is
declared.
The second stage (42 days):
A return to sustainable calm (a permanent
cessation of military and hostile
operations) must be announced and take
effect before the exchange of captives and
prisoners – all remaining living Israeli
men (civilians and soldiers) in exchange
for an agreed-upon number of prisoners
and detainees in Israeli prisons and
detention camps.
Israeli forces shall withdraw completely
from the Gaza Strip.
The third stage (42 days):
An exchange of the bodies and remains of
the dead on both sides after they have
been retrieved and identified.
The reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip
over a period of three to five years –
including homes, civilian facilities, and
infrastructure – and compensating all
those affected begins, under the
supervision of several countries and
organisations, including: Egypt, Qatar and
the United Nations.
A complete end to the siege of the Gaza
Strip.
Guarantors of the agreement:
Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and the
United Nations.
May 5, 2024

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/6/text-of-the-ceasefire-proposal-approved-by-hamas