By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jaidaa Taha
CAIRO (Reuters) – Hamas determined to not reply or have interaction with Israel’s counter-proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, an official instructed Reuters on Wednesday, affirming it’s dedicated to the mediators’ plan as an alternative.
Israel stated on March 29 it conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the U.S., after Hamas agreed to a proposal it obtained from mediators Egypt and Qatar.
A duplicate obtained by Reuters on Wednesday confirmed the mediators’ proposal was a part of the January 17 ceasefire settlement and would lengthen the ceasefire for 50 extra days.
The negotiations for a second ceasefire part must be over earlier than the 50-day interval ends, as per the copy.
The proposal included the discharge of New Jersey native Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier within the Israeli military, on the primary day after the ceasefire is introduced.
Hamas would additionally launch 4 Israeli hostages, with one hostage launched each 10 days in trade for releasing 250 Palestinians held in Israeli jails and releasing 2,000 from those that have been detained after Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel.
The proposal additionally entailed the cessation of Israeli army operations, opening the crossings to permit the entry of humanitarian support and re-opening the Netzarim Hall to permit the entry of automobiles from the south to the north and vice versa.
The Israeli army stated on March 19 that its forces re-extended their management to the centre of the Netzarim Hall, which bisects the Gaza Strip.
The primary part of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into power on January 19 after 15 months of battle and concerned a halt to combating, the discharge of among the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the releasing of some Palestinian prisoners.
Nevertheless, Israel stated on March 19 that its forces resumed floor operations within the central and southern Gaza Strip. It additionally introduced a significant enlargement of army operations in Gaza on Wednesday, saying massive areas of the enclave could be seized and added to its safety zones, accompanied by large-scale evacuations of the inhabitants.
Part two of the three-phase deal is meant to concentrate on agreements on the discharge of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas says any proposals should enable the launch of the second part, whereas Israel has supplied to increase the primary 42-day part.
Greater than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestinian officers say.
Israel started its offensive after 1000’s of Hamas-led gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 individuals and abducting 251 as hostages, in keeping with Israeli tallies.
(Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Jaidaa Taha; Modifying by Stephen Coates)
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