From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Hostage-ceasefire deal could be finalized Thursday, implemented days later, report claims
Israeli security sources reportedly believe it is possible for negotiators to finalize an agreement on a hostage-ceasefire deal at summit talks scheduled for Thursday in Cairo or Doha, and that the deal could be put into action within days after that.
According to a Channel 12 report this evening citing “positive” assessments by the unnamed sources, progress is being made to close the gaps between Israel and Hamas on the terms of a deal. Ultimately, the report says, it will depend on whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar are prepared to show the “flexibility” needed to finalize an agreement.
Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday night that Israel would send its negotiators to the August 15 talks “in order to finalize the details of the implementation of the framework agreement.” That announcement came immediately after the mediators — the US, Qatar and Egypt — said in a joint statement that a deal needed to be concluded and implemented without further delay.
According to tonight’s TV report, Qatar has indicated that a document containing clarifications from Israel on several disputed issues has been conveyed to Hamas ahead of the talks. Moreover, it is understood that Hamas will be represented at the summit, and therefore it will be possible for the mediators to shuttle between the sides, Channel 12 says.
Specifically, the TV report continues, it is believed that an agreement can be finalized by Thursday between Israel, the US and Egypt on arrangements for the Philadelphi Route along the Gaza-Egypt border, and at the Rafah border crossing. The mediators, the TV report says, accept Israel’s demand that Hamas will not be a party to this arrangement. Israel regards security procedures along the Gaza-Egypt border as vital to prevent Hamas from resuming its import of weaponry and materials and thereby reviving its military capabilities.
The various negotiating parties are reportedly also already discussing the names of hostages to be released under the deal, and the names of Palestinian security prisoners to be released in exchange.
Israel has demanded, and the mediators recognize the importance of the demand, that it be given the names of the hostages to be freed before implementation of the deal can begin, the report says.
It adds that Israel is ready to be flexible on Hamas demands regarding which Palestinian security prisoners would go free and which releases Israel would veto. Reportedly, Israel is indicating that it will be more flexible on this issue if Hamas includes more living hostages among the 33 to be freed in the first 42-day stage of the anticipated three-stage deal.
Netanyahu’s demand for a mechanism to prevent the return of armed gunmen to northern Gaza still requires work, the report says.
It quotes the security sources describing the latest effort to finalize and implement a deal as “doable” and “the last opportunity.”
It notes that the mediators are “exhausted,” that the US presidential election campaign is accelerating, and that the region is on the brink of potential escalation into wider conflict. If this chance is not taken, the TV report says, “there won’t be another opportunity for a long time, if at all.”
