Middle-East

Gaza peace plan: Qatar, Egypt, US urge Hamas, Israel to finalise truce

Palestinians inspect the damage after Israeli forces withdrew from Jabalia refugee camp, following a raid, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 31, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)

By Reuters | Sunday, June 2, 2024

The first phase of Israel's offer would last for six weeks and would include a "full and complete" ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from "all populated areas" of Gaza and the "release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners."

Egypt and Qatar on Saturday joined the United States in urging Israel and Hamas to finalise an agreement along the lines of a proposal pushed by US President Joe Biden, according to a joint statement from the three countries.

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Gaza conflict mediators on Saturday urged Israel and Hamas to finalise a ceasefire and hostage release deal outlined by Biden that they said would bring immediate relief to people in Gaza and to the hostages and their families.

The US, Egypt and Qatar have been seeking for months to mediate an end to the war, but a deal has proven elusive.

Hamas said on Friday it was ready to engage "positively and in a constructive manner".

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Saturday that mediators hope all parties will deal positively with the principles of the Gaza ceasefire proposal.

Sheikh Mohammed made the remarks during a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Qatar's state news agency said.

Qatar, with Egypt, has been mediating ceasefire discussions between Israel and Palestinian militant faction Hamas. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also said in a phone call with Blinken on Saturday that his country would support all efforts to end the war in Gaza, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

Biden said the first phase of Israel's offer would last for six weeks and would include a "full and complete" ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from "all populated areas" of Gaza and the "release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners."

Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, amid shortages of aid supplies, after Israeli forces launched a ground and air operation in the eastern part of Rafah, as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip May 8, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)

Biden added that in this phase, Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza, while humanitarian assistance will increase to 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every day.

"With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units, could be delivered by the international community," Biden added, saying the first phase could begin immediately after a deal is reached.

The first phase will also include talks between Israel and Hamas to get to the next stage of the proposal.

Phase Two & Three

Biden called the second phase "a permanent end to hostilities." However, he added that the negotiations to arrive at the second phase could take longer than six weeks as there were going to be differences between the two sides.

He added that the US, Qatar and Egypt will ensure that talks continue during this period until "all agreements are reached" to start the second phase.

The second phase would see a release of all remaining hostages who are alive, including male soldiers, while Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza, according to Biden. He added: "And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire will become - in the words of the Israeli proposal - the cessation of hostilities permanently."

In the third phase, Biden said "A major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence and any final remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families.