'Israel' claims open to talks on Gaza calm post-captive release: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
28 Apr 2024 09:02
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Israeli officials indicated that the Egyptians presented a new proposal to Hamas claiming "Israel's willingness to make further significant concessions."

IOF soldiers work on their tank in a staging area at the Gaza envelope in southern occupied Palestine, January 4, 2024. (AP)

A new Israeli proposal for a potential captive deal with Hamas involves a "willingness" to discuss the "restoration of sustainable calm" in the Gaza Strip after an initial release of captives on humanitarian grounds, Axios reported citing Israeli officials.

According to Axios, this marks the first instance since October 7 that Israeli leaders have signaled their willingness to discuss ending the aggression on Gaza as part of negotiations for a captive deal. Hamas has consistently made ending the war a focal point of its proposals in recent months during these negotiations.

A group of Egyptian intelligence officials visited "Israel" on Friday for discussions with representatives from Shin Bet, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), and Mossad regarding the captive file and a potential Israeli military invasion of Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

After the talks concluded, Israeli officials indicated that the Egyptians presented a new proposal to Hamas indicating "Israel's willingness to make further significant concessions," the news website mentioned. Hamas confirmed Friday evening it received the proposal and announced it will review it before responding.

Axios cited the Israeli officials as saying the new proposal was developed collaboratively by the Egyptian intelligence delegation and the Israeli negotiation team, considering the positions articulated by Hamas thus far and the potential terms both "Israel" and Egypt believe the Palestinian Resistance group might accept in a deal.

The Israeli officials claimed the new proposal addresses many of Hamas' demands, "such as a willingness for full return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza" and the withdrawal of IOF presence from the corridor dividing the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, the proposal includes "a willingness to discuss the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire" as part of the second phase of the agreement, following the humanitarian release of captives held by Hamas, according to Axios.

Dive deeper

The negotiations between "Israel" and Hamas over captives have hit a stalemate for several weeks, highlighting significant differences between the two sides.

Recently, the Israeli war cabinet reportedly opted to revise its stance on the number of captives it insists on releasing as part of an agreement, Axios mentioned. Initially, the proposal entailed the release of 40 captives on humanitarian grounds in exchange for a six-week ceasefire and the release of approximately 900 Palestinian detainees.

But later, Israeli officials disclosed that the war cabinet has granted authorization for the Israeli negotiation team, for the first time this week, to negotiate the idea of releasing fewer than 40 captives after Hamas highlighted it only holds about 40 captives that fit the humanitarian criteria.

Moreover, the duration of the ceasefire will be based on the number of captives released, with one day of ceasefire allocated for each captive released.

'No fundamental changes in the Israeli stance': Exclusive

A Palestinian resistance official confirmed to Al Mayadeen on Saturday that “the movement is still studying the Israeli proposal in the negotiations, but there are no great expectations for its acceptance unless fundamental amendments are made to it.”

The official confirmed that the Israeli proposal does not reflect a fundamental shift in the position, and does not give clear answers to the issue of Israeli withdrawal and a comprehensive ceasefire.

The official said Hamas "is still studying the proposal, but there are no high expectations for its acceptance unless fundamental amendments are made to it."

The expert on Palestinian Resistance affairs, Hani al-Dali, told Al Mayadeen that one of the clauses is that 20 to 40 captives, and four or five female IOF members or elderly IOF members, be released in exchange for their release of numerous Palestinian prisoners held for life in occupation prisons.

He emphasized that the Israelis indicated possible flexibility regarding a withdrawal from the beginning of al-Rashid Street to the Juhr al-Dik area, and the return of the forcibly displaced Palestinians should be flexible.

Al-Dali pointed out that the occupation’s proposals are the terms of a partial deal and not a complete deal.