CAIRO, Egypt: Hamas officials Monday said that the Islamist group is considering a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would include a six-week ceasefire and the release of Israeli women and children hostages in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners.
A Hamas source close to the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the first phase of the proposal would involve the return of displaced Palestinian civilians to the northern Gaza Strip with 400 to 500 trucks of food aid per day.
The news came after the White House announced that negotiators had made an offer to Palestinian fighters following weekend talks in Cairo.
The Hamas official said that the first part of the deal for the 42 women, children and elderly hostages would include “800 to 900 Palestinian prisoners”, 100 of whom are serving life or long sentences in Israeli jails.
The source further said the second part of the deal includes the release of all Israeli prisoners, including soldiers and officers, in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners to be agreed upon in the coming days.
“This phase includes lifting the Israeli military checkpoints located on the Al-Rashid coastal road in the west of the Gaza Strip and the Salah al-Din Road in the east,” he added.
The deal, if agreed to, would also keep Israeli troops at a distance of “not less than 500 metres (yards) from the two roads without interference or any inspections of the displaced”, and ensure that the passage of armed men on the two roads is monitored by drones.
According to the Hamas source, the third part of the agreement would involve a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
White House Monday described as “serious” the ceasefire talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo involving CIA chief William Burns, Israel, Hamas and Qatar.
“Now it’s going to be up to Hamas to come through,” the White House said.
Earlier, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu talked tough, insisting that a date has been set for a ground offensive in Rafah. According to Israel, Rafah is one of the last Hamas strongholds in Gaza Strip.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,207 people in Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
