Al Jazeera obtained a copy from Gaza ceasefire proposal which Hamas said it had accepted on Monday. The agreement, proposed by Egypt and Qatar, would take place in three stages which would see an initial cessation of fighting leading to lasting calm and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian territory.
The proposed deal would also guarantee the release of Israeli captives in Gaza as well as an unspecified number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Israel said it did not accept the proposal but would engage in further negotiations to reach an agreement – while continuing its attack on Gaza.
At the same time, the United States, which is also participating in the negotiations, declared it’s being revised Hamas’ response.
Here is the text of the proposed agreement:
The basic principles of an agreement between the Israeli side and the Palestinian side in Gaza on the exchange of captives and prisoners between them and the return of lasting calm.
The framework agreement aims to: The release of all Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip, civilian or military, living or not, from all periods, in exchange for a certain number of prisoners held by Israel as agreed, and the return to lasting calm. this leads to a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, its reconstruction and the lifting of the siege.
The framework agreement includes three linked and interconnected stages, which are as follows:
The first stage (42 days)
(Here) a temporary cessation of military operations between the two sides and the withdrawal of Israeli forces eastward and away from densely populated areas to a defined area along the border along the length of the Gaza Strip (including including Wadi Gaza, known as the Netzarim Corridor, and the Kuwait Roundabout, as below).
All aviation (military and reconnaissance) in the Gaza Strip will cease for 10 hours per day and for 12 hours on days when captives and prisoners are exchanged.
Those displaced in Gaza must return to their areas of residence and Israel must withdraw from Wadi Gaza, the Netzarim Corridor and the Kuwait Roundabout:
- On the third day (after the release of three captives), Israeli forces are to completely withdraw from al-Rashid Street in the east to Salah al-Din Street and dismantle military sites and installations there. area.
- Displaced (unarmed) people must return to their areas of residence and all residents of Gaza must have freedom of movement in all parts of the Strip.
- Humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter via al-Rashid Street from the first day without any obstacles.
- On the 22nd day (after the release of half of the living civilian prisoners in Gaza, including female soldiers), Israeli forces are to withdraw from the central Gaza Strip (specifically the Netzarim/Martyrs corridor and the axis from Kuwait Roundabout), from east of Salah al-Din Street to an area along the border, and all military sites and installations must be completely dismantled.
- Displaced people will be allowed to return to their places of residence in northern Gaza and all residents will have freedom of movement in all parts of the Gaza Strip.
- Humanitarian aid, relief materials and fuel (600 trucks per day, including 50 tankers and 300 trucks for the north) will be allowed to enter Gaza intensively and in sufficient quantities from day one. This must include the fuel needed to operate the power plant, restart trade, rehabilitate and operate hospitals, health centers and bakeries in all parts of the Gaza Strip, and operate the equipment needed to remove the rubble. This will continue at all stages.
Exchange of captives and prisoners between the two camps:
During the first phase, Hamas will release 33 Israeli captives (alive or dead), including women (civilians and soldiers), children (under 19 who are not soldiers), people over 50 years and sick people, in exchange for a certain number of prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers, according to the following (criteria):
- Hamas must release all living Israeli captives, including civilian women and children (under 19 who are not soldiers). In exchange, Israel will release 30 children and women for every Israeli detainee released, based on lists provided by Hamas, by detention order.
- Hamas must release all living Israeli captives (over the age of 50), the sick and injured civilians. In exchange, Israel will release 30 elderly (over 50) and sick prisoners for each Israeli captive, based on lists provided by Hamas, by order of detention.
- Hamas must release all surviving female Israeli soldiers. In exchange, Israel will release 50 prisoners for every female Israeli soldier (30 serving life sentences, 20 convicted) based on lists provided by Hamas.
Planning for the exchange of captives and prisoners between the parties initially:
- Hamas will release three Israeli detainees on the third day of the agreement, after which Hamas will release three more detainees every seven days, starting with women (civilians and female soldiers) as much as possible. During the sixth week, Hamas will release all remaining civilian detainees included in this phase. In exchange, Israel will release the agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, according to lists provided by Hamas.
- Hamas will provide information on which Israeli detainees will be released at this point by the seventh day (if possible).
- On the 22nd day, the Israeli side will release all prisoners of Shalit Agreement who were arrested again.
- If there are fewer than 33 living Israeli detainees to be released, a certain number of bodies belonging to the same categories will be released to complete this step. In return, Israel will release all women and children arrested in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023 – provided this is done during the fifth week of this stage.
- The exchange process is linked to the degree of commitment to the agreement, including the cessation of military operations, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of displaced persons, as well as the entry of humanitarian aid.
- All legal procedures necessary to ensure that released Palestinian prisoners are not re-arrested on the same charges must be completed.
- The steps in step one above are not a basis for negotiating step two. Punitive measures and sanctions taken against prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and detention camps after October 7, 2023 must be lifted and their conditions improved, including those arrested after that date.
- No later than the 16th day of the first phase, indirect talks will begin between the parties to agree on the details of the second phase of this agreement, with regard to the exchange of prisoners and captives of both parties (soldiers and remaining men) , provided that they are completed and agreed before the end of the fifth week of this stage.
The UN and its agencies, including UNRWA, and other international organizations, must continue to provide humanitarian services throughout the Gaza Strip. This will continue throughout all stages of the agreement.
Infrastructure (electricity, water, sewerage, communications and roads) throughout the Gaza Strip will be rehabilitated and equipment necessary for civil defense will be allowed into Gaza to clear rubble and debris. This will continue throughout all stages of the agreement.
All supplies and equipment needed to shelter displaced people who lost their homes during the war (a minimum of 60,000 temporary accommodations – caravans – and 200,000 tents) will be allowed into Gaza.
Throughout this phase, an agreed number (at least 50) of injured military personnel will be allowed to pass through the Rafah crossing point to receive medical care, and an increased number of sick and injured travelers will be allowed to pass through. the Rafah crossing point. Rafah crossing as travel restrictions are lifted. The movement of goods and trade will resume without restrictions.
Necessary arrangements and plans will be put in place for the reconstruction of homes, civilian installations and civil infrastructure destroyed due to the war, as well as arrangements to compensate those affected, under the supervision of a number of countries and of organizations. notably: Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
All measures taken during this stage, including temporary cessation of military operations, relief and shelter, withdrawal of forces, etc., will continue in the second stage until lasting calm (cessation military and hostile operations) be declared.
The second stage (42 days):
A return to lasting calm (a permanent cessation of military and hostile operations) must be announced and take effect before the exchange of captives and prisoners – all remaining Israeli men alive (civilians and soldiers) in exchange for a number agreed to prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and detention camps.
Israeli forces must completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
The third stage (42 days):
An exchange of bodies and remains from both sides after they were recovered and identified.
The plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip over a period of three to five years – including housing, civilian facilities and infrastructure – and compensate all those affected begins, under the supervision of several countries and organizations, including : Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations. .
The complete end of the siege of the Gaza Strip.
Guarantors of the agreement:
Qatar, Egypt, United States and United Nations.
May 5, 2024
