Gaza City: The Palestinian group Hamas has announced that it has submitted its response to the ceasefire proposal for Gaza put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff. This communication was facilitated through mediators from Egypt and Qatar.
According to Anadolu Agency, Hamas released a statement outlining its conditions, which include a permanent ceasefire, a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and assurances for the continuous flow of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in the region. The proposal framework suggests the release of 10 Israeli captives and the return of 18 bodies in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. Despite submitting their response, Hamas did not explicitly confirm its acceptance of the Witkoff proposal.
The statement from Hamas indicated that the response was formed after national consultations and reflects their commitment to addressing the plight of the Palestinian people. In a related report, Israel's broadcasting authority KAN, citing Israeli sources, mentioned that Hamas is seeking modifications to the proposal.
The context of these developments follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's acceptance of the US envoy's ceasefire and prisoner exchange outline. Previous reports from Israeli and US media, as well as Palestinian sources close to Hamas, indicated that the proposal involves the release of 10 Israelis in exchange for 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, 1,111 detainees from Gaza detained after October 7, 2023, and the return of 180 Palestinian bodies.
The proposed plan includes simultaneous releases over two phases, with humanitarian aid entering Gaza immediately post-approval. This aid would be managed by the UN and the Red Crescent, ensuring that the ceasefire is maintained during the agreement period and any potential extensions. Israeli forces are expected to redeploy within Gaza after the exchange phases, moving from the northern part of the Strip to the south.
The backdrop of these negotiations is a severe Israeli military offensive in Gaza since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of nearly 54,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. Aid organizations have raised alarms about the potential for famine among Gaza's over 2 million residents.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for war crimes against civilians in the enclave.