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A Hamas delegation has left Doha and arrived in Egypt for talks on an updated initiative to end hostilities in the Gaza Strip. This was announced by a senior Hamas official in an interview with AFP, the Israeli publication Maariv reports.
A new window for diplomacy
The purpose of the trip is to discuss “new ideas” and proposals put forward by the Qatari and Egyptian mediators. According to reports, the updated plan provides for:
– a complete cessation of hostilities for a period of 5 to 7 years;
– the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for a large group of Palestinian prisoners;
– withdrawal of Israeli troops (IDF) from the Gaza Strip.
The proposal, according to sources, is aimed at stopping the humanitarian catastrophe in the region and creating conditions for the start of the enclave’s reconstruction.
Israel’s difficult position
So far, there has been no official response from Israel to the new initiative. However, government officials in Jerusalem have repeatedly stated that they will not accept conditions that would allow Hamas to maintain its strength or regroup.
“Any deal that leaves Hamas in power in Gaza is seen as a threat to Israel’s security, ” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
Context.
In recent weeks, the trilateral talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have intensified amid international pressure, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the growing threat of a large-scale IDF ground operation in Rafah, the last major Hamas stronghold.
The fate of the dozens of hostages abducted in the 7 October attack remains a key issue at the centre of any deal.
