MEE Staff
Middle East Eye / June 6, 2024
Deal lays out a timetable for withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and release of Israeli captives in territory.
Middle East Eye has exclusively obtained a copy of the ceasefire proposal that was made by Israel and passed by mediators to Hamas last week.
The Israeli proposal, which is a counteroffer to one mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt on 6 May, says Israel has agreed to a “temporary cessation of military operations” for 42 days that will be followed by open-ended talks to reach a permanent ceasefire.
It says the “temporary ceasefire” can be extended after the initial 42-day phase “as long as negotiations on the conditions of stage two of [the] agreement are ongoing,” the document says.
The Israeli response also offers limited withdrawal of troops in the first phase of the three-stage agreement and says the complete pull-out would take place in the second phase, which is subject to further discussions.
It also stipulates that Israel can veto the release of at least 100 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in the first phase.
Since US President Joe Biden made the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stressed that the conditions for ending the country’s war in Gaza have not changed, including the destruction of Hamas.
Here’s the text of the proposed deal:
General Principles for an agreement between the Israeli side and the Palestinian side in Gaza on the exchange of hostages and prisoners and restoring a sustainable calm
Israel response on 6 May 2024 proposal
This framework’s purpose is the release of all civilian and military Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip whether living or not whom have been detained during all periods in exchange for a number that will be agreed upon of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, and restoring a sustainable calm which would achieve a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of Gaza, opening of the border crossings, and facilitating movement of people and transfer of goods.
The framework agreement is made of 3 stages which are interconnected, subject to the following:
The First stage (42 days):
- Temporary cessation of military operations by both Parties and the withdrawal of Israeli forces eastwards away from densely populated areas along the borders in all areas of the Gaza strip including Gaza valley (Netzarim axis and Kuwait roundabout) as mentioned below.
- Temporary cessation of aerial movement (military and surveillance) in the Gaza strip for 10 hours daily, and for 12 hours daily during days where exchange of hostages and prisoners will take place.
- Return of the internally displaced to their place of residence and the withdrawal from Gaza valley (Netzarim axis and Kuwait roundabout):
- On day 7 (after the release of 7 of the female hostages), Israeli forces will completely withdraw from Rasheed street eastwards to Salah ad Din street, and the complete dismantling of military sites and installations in the area, the commencement of return of internally displaced to their place of residence (without carrying arms while returning), the freedom of movement of the population in all areas of the Gaza strip, and the entry of humanitarian aid through Rashid street from day 1 without restrictions.
- On day 22, Israeli Forces will withdraw from the central Gaza strip (especially Netzarim axis and Kuwait roundabout axis) eastwards of Salahuddin Street to an area along the border, the complete dismantling of military sites and installations the continuation of return of internally displaced to their place of residence (without carrying arms while returning) in northern Gaza strip, and the freedom movement of the population in all areas of the Gaza strip.
- Starting from day 1, the entry of increased and adequate humanitarian aid and relief and fuel (600 trucks dally to include 50 trucks of fuel, 300 of which to the north), including fuel necessary for the operation of the power plant, trade and civilian equipment necessary to remove rubble, and the rehabilitation and operation of hospitals, medical centers and bakeries in all areas of the Gaza strip, and the continuation of the above mentioned throughout the stages of the agreement.
- Exchange of hostages and prisoners:
During this stage, Hamas shall release 33 of the Israeli hostages (living and human remains) who are women (civilians and soldiers), children (under 19 years who are not soldiers), elderly (above 50 years) and ill and wounded civilians, in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers, in according to the following:
- Hamas will release all living Israeli civilian women and children (under 19 years who are not soldiers), in exchange of Israel releasing 30 children and women for each Israeli hostage that will be released, subject to lists to be provided by Hamas based on precedence of their imprisonment.
- Hamas will release all living Israeli elderly (over 50 years), ill and wounded civilians, in exchange for Israel releasing 30 elderly (over 50 years), and ill prisoners (limited up to 15 years remaining time in prison) for each Israeli hostage that will be released, subject to lists to be provided by Hamas based on the precedence of their imprisonment.
- Hamas will release all living Israeli women soldiers, in exchange of Israel releasing 50 prisoners in Israeli prisons each Israeli hostage that will be released (30 serving life sentences, 20 other sentences limited up to 15 years remaining time in prison) subject to lists to be provided by Hamas, except an agreed upon number of prisoners (at least 100) who will be discussed in Stage 2. An agreed upon number (at least 50) of prisoners with a life sentence will be released abroad or in Gaza
- The mechanism for exchange of hostages and prisoners between the two sides during Stage 1:
- On day 1, Hamas will release 3 Israeli civilian female hostages. On day 7, Hamas will release additional 4 Israeli civilian female hostages. Thereafter, Hamas will release 3 Israeli hostages every 7 days, beginning with women (civilians and soldiers), and all living hostages to be released before the release of human remains. During the 6t week, Hamas will release all remaining hostages included in this stage in exchange for Israel releasing the agreed number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, subject to lists to be provided by Hamas.
- By day 7, Hamas will provide information on the numbers of Israeli hostages that will be released during this stage.
- On week 6 (after the release of Hisam al-Sayed and Avera Mangisto who will be included in the total number of 33 hostages agreed to be released during Stage 1), the Israeli side will release 47 prisoners of the Shalit deal that were re-detained.
- In the event that the number of living Israeli hostages to be released during this stage does not reach 33, the difference will be completed through the release of a corresponding number of human remains from the same categories for this stage. In exchange, Israel will release all women and children (under 19 years who are not militants) who were detained from the Gaza strip after 7 October 2023 and this will be done on Week 6.
- The exchange is connected to the adherence to the obligations in the agreement including the cessation of military operations by both sides, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of internally displaced and entry of humanitarian aid.
- The released Palestinian prisoners will be not be rearrested based on the same charges they were previously arrested on, and the Israeli side will not initiate the return of the released Palestinian prisoners to serve their remaining sentenced time. The released Palestinian prisoners will not be required to sign any document as a condition to their release
- The keys on the exchange of hostages and prisoners in Stage 1 mentioned above shall not be considered as a basis for the exchange keys in Stage 2.
- No later than day 16, the commencement of indirect negotiations between the two sides to agree on the conditions for implementing stage 2 of this agreement, including those relating to the keys for the exchange of hostages and prisoners [soldiers and remaining men), and this should be concluded and agreed upon before the end of week 5 of this stage.
- The UN and its agencies and other organizations will undertake their work in providing humanitarian services in all areas of the Gaza strip, and the continuations of the above mentioned throughout the stages of the agreement.
- The commencement of rehabilitation of the infrastructure (electricity, water, sewage, communications and roads) in all areas of the Gaza strip, and the entry of an agreed quantity of necessary equipment for civil defense and the removal of rubble, and the continuation of the above mentioned, throughout the stages of the agreement.
- Facilitate the entry of supplies and requirements to accommodate the internally displaced who lost their homes during the war (no less than 60 thousand temporary homes-caravans-and 200 thousand tents).
- After all Israeli female soldiers have been released, permitting the number to be agreed upon of wounded military individuals to travel to the Rafah crossing to receive medical treatment, and the increase in the number of travelers and ill and wounded through the Rafah crossing and removal of restrictions on travel and return of movement of goods and trade.
- Commencement of the necessary arrangements and plans for the comprehensive reconstruction of houses, civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure that was destroyed during the war, supporting those affected under the supervision of a number of countries and organizations Including Egypt, Qatar and the UN.
- All procedures in this stage including the temporary cessation of military operations by both sides, aid and shelter effort, withdrawal of forces, etc., will continue in stage 2 so long as the negotiations on the conditions for implementing stage 2 of this agreement are ongoing. The guarantors of this agreement shall make every effort to ensure that those indirect negotiations continue until both sides are able to reach agreement on the conditions for implementing stage 2 of this agreement.
The Second stage (42 days):
- Announce restoration of a sustainable calm (cessation of military operations and hostilities permanently) and its commencement prior to the exchange of hostages and prisoners between the two sides – all remaining Israeli hostages who are living men (civilians and soldiers) in exchange for a number of prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza strip.
The Third stage (42 days):
- The exchange of all human remains with the two sides after locating and identifying them.
- The commencement of the implementation of the plan for reconstruction of the Gaza strip for the duration of 3-5 years including houses, civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure and the support of all those affected under the supervision pf a number of countries and organizations including Egypt, Qatar and the UN.
- Opening of the border crossings, facilitating movement of people and transfer of goods.
