War in the Gaza Strip: What is the difference between the truce confirmed by Hamas and Israeli demands?

Hopes were quickly realized. On Monday, Hamas informed Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating relations with the United States, that it had “approved their proposal for a ceasefire agreement” in the Gaza Strip. The problem is that this text is very far from meeting the demands of Israel, which therefore decided to continue the operation in Rafah. It must be said that it has many differences from the one presented last week by the Jewish state, which the United States considered “extremely generous.”

Question about hostages

The text, approved by Israel at the end of April, already provided for three stages. The first, lasting 40 days, provided for the release of 33 Israeli hostages (women, minors, elderly or vulnerable people) in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in a ratio of one to 20. Israel agreed to expand the list of Palestinian releases. prisoners, who should no longer only be women and teenagers, but also convicts.

The new text makes big changes, surely dictated by the principle of reality: Hamas does propose to gradually release 33 Israeli hostages during the first phase, lasting 42 days, but specifies “dead or alive.” This means that among women, minors, elderly or vulnerable people, all hostages are no longer alive. Another change: the ratio will increase to one hostage for every 30 Palestinian prisoners, and even one for every 50 if the freed hostage is a female soldier.

In terms of operations, the first stage involves a “temporary” cessation of hostilities with the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the east of the enclave, close to the border. For its part, Israel offered to withdraw from the westernmost route after the initial release of the hostages and leave central Gaza after a three-week truce.

The proposal accepted by Hamas on Monday mentioned the start of reconstruction operations at this stage, whereas the previous text only mentioned them at the third stage.

The question of the final cessation of hostilities

One of the other important changes that Israel has never wanted to back down from is the durability of the ceasefire. The text, approved by Hamas, calls for a “permanent cessation of military operations and the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip” in a second phase, which would lead to a “permanent ceasefire.” However, last week’s proposal only mentioned starting “indirect” discussions on “sustainable calm” at the end of the first three weeks of the break, and then concluding an agreement on “sustainable calm” in the second stage.

New discussions planned

The third phase, which already included a five-year reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, now also involves an end to Israel’s “siege” of the enclave.

Perhaps all is not lost yet. The Israeli War Cabinet decided to send a delegation to Egypt, hoping to reach “an agreement on terms acceptable to Israel.”