U.S., Qatar, Egypt push new plan for Gaza hostage release

In the fourth month of war between Israel and Hamas since the surprise attack on October 7, the United States, Qatar and Egypt are pressuring the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian group to reach a truce that would lead to the release of hostages in Gaza and function as a preliminary step to the establishment of peace in the Middle East. The conflict between Hamas and Israel is spreading in the Middle East with the involvement of new states, a scenario that worries the United States, Qatar and Egypt, countries that achieved the brief truce that during the month of November allowed the exchange between Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. According to information gathered by The Wall Street Journal, the three states prepared a 90-day plan that includes the cessation of hostilities for an undetermined amount of time in which the release of Israeli hostages would take place, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the permission for free movement in the area, and the release of Israeli troops from Gaza. Then, in the second stage, the Hamas group would agree to release the female prisoners belonging to the Israeli army, and would proceed to hand over the bodies in its possession in exchange for a new release of Palestinian prisoners. In the final stage, Hamas would release Israeli soldiers and men of fighting age, whom it also considers soldiers, while Israel would move its units away from the borders with Gaza. One of the points that arouses Israel’s reservations is the guarantee of security for Hamas’s political leaders, and a new process for the creation of a Palestinian state. On the other hand, the plan also takes into account the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and the negotiation for the permanent cessation of hostilities. Despite pressure from the three countries, the proposal is at risk of being rejected due to the firm stance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who does not believe in the two-state solution. “During his conversation with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that, following the destruction of Hamas, Israel must maintain control of security in Gaza to ensure that Gaza ceases to pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the Palestinian sovereignty demand,” the Israeli government office said in a statement released last Friday. On Sunday, Netanyahu again expressed himself on the matter and questioned the conditions required by the peace treaty. “In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands an end to the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all murderers and rapists. If we accept this, our soldiers will have fallen in vain. If we accept this, we will not be able to guarantee the safety of our citizens,” the prime minister remarked.

Original source in Spanish