From the Liveblog of
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Report gives further details of three-stage ‘roadmap’ to end Israel-Hamas war announced by Biden
A report by the Saudi-owned, London-based Al Majalla magazine, provides what it says are some additional details on the Israeli hostage-ceasefire “roadmap” proposal spelled out by US President Joe Biden last night.
The initial part of the first stage would be accompanied by a partial withdrawal of troops from Gaza as Hamas releases hostages, and the return of displaced, unarmed Gazans to their homes. In the meantime, the two sides would negotiate a more permanent ceasefire, the report says.
The first stage of the proposed deal would unfold over 42 days and would include the release of 33 female, child, elderly, sick, and injured hostages.
According to the report, for each female or child hostage, 30 female or child Palestinian security prisoners would be released, according to lists provided by Hamas. For each hostage that is sick, injured, or over the age of 50, 30 elderly, sick, and injured Palestinian prisoners will be released.
For each female soldier, 50 female security prisoners will be released, including 30 serving life sentences and 20 others serving lengthy sentences, according to names provided by Hamas.
If there are not enough living hostages to reach 33 releases in the first stage, the dead bodies of hostages would be released.
By the 16th day of the truce, indirect talks would begin regarding details of the 42-day-long second stage of the deal, which according to the outline, would include a declaration of a sustainable ceasefire, the release of male hostages, including civilians and soldiers, in exchange for male security prisoners and the complete withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza.
On the 22nd day of the first stage, Israel would release prisoners who have been re-arrested after being released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. By this stage, Hamas will have released half of the living civilian hostages, and freedom of movement would be allowed in the Strip.
Humanitarian aid would be expanded to 600 trucks a day in the first stage, including supplies that will allow the restoration of medical centers.
The third and final stage of the deal would include an exchange of dead bodies, a three-five year process of rehabilitating the Strip, overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations, and the eventual lifting of the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the enclave.
