The ceasefire in Gaza is getting closer, although Netanyahu’s office has assured that Hamas has not yet accepted the proposal: “Contrary to information, the terrorist organization Hamas has not yet given its response to the agreement.”
This ceasefire is being negotiated in Doha and the negotiators from the United States and Qatar are present who believe that the pact for the tegua can arrive “in the next few hours.” If produced it would be the second ceasefireafter the first one that lasted a week and occurred at the end of November 2023.
Since Donald Trump’s victory in the elections, the possibility of a ceasefire is more present due, above all, to the pressures that the American president has madesuggesting that it be carried out before he takes office on January 20. Gershon Baskin, the Israeli negotiator who maintains direct communication with the leadership of the Islamists, has detailed the steps to follow if this agreement is reached.
First phase according to the agreement
First of all, a first phase of 42 days in which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages (dead or alive), including female civilians, people over 50 years of age, and wounded or sick civilians. In exchange, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every civilian hostage and 50 for every female soldier.
These prisoners They cannot be arrested again for the same charges nor forced to sign release conditions. In addition, all fighting will stop, all air operations will be restricted and Israeli forces will withdraw from “populated areas.”
For their part, displaced Palestinians will be able to return to their homes and there will be free movement of humanitarian aid of 600 trucks per day including fuel to generate electricity.
Second and third phase
The second phase will also last 42 days and must include a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of troops from Gaza. Hamas, for its part, will release Israeli soldiers and remaining civilians in exchange for a specific number of Palestinians.
In the third and final phasealso of the same duration, both parties will proceed to the exchange of the deceased hostages, the return of the Gazans to the north of the strip and a Gaza reconstruction plan over a period of between three and five years supervised by Egypt, Qatar and the UN.
Why now?
What has changed is the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House. In fact, Trump set that date as a deadline to reach an agreement and everything seems to indicate that the message was not only captured by Hamas, but also by its ally, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Before, at the beginning of November, Qatar who is the main mediator of the conflict announced his withdrawal from the negotiations until the parties showed “their will and seriousness to end the brutal war.” “Qatar will not accept that mediation is a reason for blackmail,” announced Al Ansari, spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, on November 9.
Just before, Donald Trump won the election and has since pushed for a deal before his inauguration: “Hell will break out in the Middle East” were his words textual.
For its part, Joe Biden in his last speech on foreign policy has assured that “it is ready” to move forward with the agreement and has added that his Administration is working urgently.
After several weeks of negotiations, the ceasefire seems increasingly closer. Meanwhile, Palestinian death toll continues to rise and there are already more than 46,000.