Two Stages Of Ceasefire In Gaza Continues To Be Finalized: There Is Release Of Hostages And Withdrawal Of Israeli Troops

The destruction caused by the Israeli attack on Gaza. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - A senior Palestinian official said on Wednesday a meeting in Doha, Qatar involving the United States, "Israel" as well as Egyptian and Qatar mediators, was focused on finalizing a deadlock that hampered negotiations for a possible ceasefire in Gaza.

The official told Al Mayadeen there was significant progress in the latest negotiations, as quoted December 19.

It is further explained, in this context, the potential ceasefire that is currently being discussed will be held in two stages.

The first phase involved a 42-day ceasefire and a prisoner swap deal that would release women, children, parents and Israeli female soldiers, followed by the release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners, in particular those who were sentenced to long sentences and life sentences.

This also involves the flow of humanitarian aid, machinery, and equipment for rescue efforts, the rebuilding of certain hospitals and public facilities, as well as the reopening of the Rafah Border.

However, the official noted that, until now, the problem of monitoring the crossing has not been resolved.

The withdrawal of Israeli occupation troops to the eastern border of the Gaza Strip as a major step will also begin during the first phase.

While the second phase involves a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, an official declaration of a ceasefire, and the exchange of Israeli male soldiers with Palestinian prisoners.

Israel emphasizes its demands on the return of 34 prisoners who are still in Gaza, while expressing its willingness to withdraw from densely populated areas across the route.

Meanwhile, Hamas has stressed the potential to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner swap agreement, provided Israel refrains from imposing new conditions that could hinder the agreement.

"In the midst of serious and positive discussions taking place in Doha today under the auspices of our brothers from Qatar and Egypt, reaching a ceasefire and a prisoner swap agreement is possible if the occupation stops introducing new conditions," the Palestinian militant group said on Tuesday.

As previously reported, Arab mediators and the United States continue to seek to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to stop the 14-month war in the Gaza Strip and cause more than 45 thousand people to die.

The US government, along with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, has made intensive efforts in recent days to advance talks, before President Joe Biden leaves office next month.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, after militants led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region, leaving about 1,200 people dead and more than 250 kidnapped as hostages.

It was responded to by a blockade campaign, air strikes and ground operations carried out by the Israeli military in response to the Palestinian enclave.

Separately, Gaza's medical authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from Palestine since the latest conflict there broke out on October 7, 2023 has increased to 45,097 people. Meanwhile, the number of injured victims was reported to have reached 107,244 people. The majority of victims were women and children, quoted from WAFA.