“BREAKING NEWS: ISRAEL AND HAMAS SIGNAL POTENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH IN GAZA PEACE TALKS”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–A potential breakthrough is unfolding in the Gaza peace talks between Israel and Hamas, with both sides signaling willingness to move forward with US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan. Here’s the latest:
Key Developments:
– Hamas’ Response: Hamas has agreed to enter negotiations for the release of all hostages according to Trump’s plan, but stopped short of accepting the proposal unconditionally.
– Israel’s Preparation: Israel’s government and military are preparing for the first phase of Trump’s plan, which includes the immediate release of all hostages.
– Trump’s Ultimatum: Trump has imposed a Sunday deadline for Hamas to accept his peace plan, warning of severe consequences if the deal isn’t reached.
Terms of the Plan:
– Hostage Release: Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages within 72 hours.
– Gaza Governance: Hamas would hand over governance of Gaza to a Palestinian authority of independents based on Palestinian national consensus and with reliance on Arab and Islamic support.
– Disarmament: Hamas has not agreed to disarm or dismantle its infrastructure, a key part of the Trump proposal .
International Reaction:
– Global Leaders: World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Qatari officials, have welcomed Hamas’ agreement to the peace deal, calling it a “significant step” towards lasting peace.
– Mediator Efforts: Qatar, Egypt, and the US are working urgently with both sides to finalize the deal .
Despite the progress, many challenges and uncertainties remain, including Hamas’ refusal to disarm and the details of the plan’s implementation.
Earlier Friday, Trump had said if Hamas hasn’t agreed to the proposal by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out.”
It’s unlikely mediators can reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas on such a tight timeline, but they can potentially begin the negotiations needed to bridge the key gaps in the proposal.
Egypt, one of the mediators in negotiations surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza, called Hamas’ response a “positive development.”
Fellow mediator Qatar also welcomed the Hamas announcement, adding in its statement that it has started working with Egypt and the US “to complete discussions regarding the plan to ensure the end of the war.”
Trump’s 20-point proposal
Under Trump’s proposal, all of Hamas’ infrastructure above and below ground would be destroyed, with the supervision of independent monitors, “and not rebuilt.”
The plan calls for Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, as well as 1,700 Palestinians detained since the start of the war, in exchange for Hamas freeing 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas members can be granted amnesty after that if they “commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons.”
Israel would gradually withdraw from Gaza as a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF), led by Arab partners, takes over security in the battered territory, according to the plan. Meanwhile, a Palestinian committee, overseen by an international body dubbed the “Board of Peace,” would run Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority is ready to take over. The proposal recognizes the aspiration for a Palestinian state and tries to present a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
Hamas has been in discussions with regional mediators from Qatar and Egypt to discuss the plan. Trump spoke midweek with Qatar’s emir for an update on the conversations.
Communication problems with Hamas’ military leaders in Gaza could have been complicating receiving an official response, according to US officials who were advised of the difficulties by regional partners earlier this week.
The sporadic contact, paired with divisions among Hamas leadership over elements of the plan, may have been delaying the group’s response, the officials said before Hamas responded.
In previous attempts at securing a ceasefire, communications were halting between Hamas’ political wing, based in Qatar, and its military leaders in Gaza
SOURCE ==CNN==EXCEPT THE HEADLINE AND INTRO PLUS A FEW PARAGRAPHS
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