He leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyehhas said on Tuesday that they are close to concluding a agreement for one truce in the war in Gaza against Israel, according to a statement published on Telegram. “We are close to reaching an agreement on a truce,” Haniyeh wrote in line with what he declared on Monday on US President Joe Biden.
The negotiations seek to establish a Stop the fire in the conflict in exchange for the release of around 240 hostages taken by the Hamas militiamen in his attack on southern Israel October 7. The action, the bloodiest perpetrated against Israel in its history, also left 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians.
Israel responded with an offensive against Gaza Stripwith incessant bombings and ground operations that, according to the Ministry of Health of this territory controlled by Hamas, have already caused more than 13,300 deaths, including thousands of minors.
Qatar Mediation
The negotiations for the release of the hostages and a truce in the conflict have had the Qatar mediationwhere Hamas has a political office and where its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is located.
He Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane Al-Thani, said on Sunday that talks were progressing but that “minor” obstacles remained to a deal. He US President Joe Biden, stated on Monday that he was confident that the agreement was close. “I think so,” he responded when asked about it.
Two sources familiar with these negotiations explained to AFP that the agreement includes a five day truce, which would imply a ceasefire on the ground and limits on Israel’s air operations in southern Gaza. In return, Between 50 and 100 hostages captured by Hamas and Islamic Jihad would be releasedanother Palestinian armed group.
Among those held were Israeli civilians and hostages of other nationalities, but not military personnel.
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The offered pact would also lead to the release of some 300 Palestinians from Israeli jailsamong them women and children.
The White House He assured that the negotiations were in the “final phase”, but did not want to give details so as not to jeopardize their success. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported on Monday that its president, Mirjana Spoljaric, traveled to Qatar to meet with the head of Hamas and the emirate’s authorities.