From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Report: US, Egypt, Qatar pushing plan for hostage release, end of war, normalization, Palestinian state talks
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
The US, Egypt and Qatar are pushing Israel and Hamas to accept a comprehensive plan that would end the war, see the release of hostages held in Gaza, and ultimately lead to full normalization for Israel with its neighbors and talks for the establishment of a Palestinian state, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The 90-day plan would reportedly bring all fighting to an extended halt, during which time Hamas would free all civilians, while Israel would release hundreds of prisoners, pull out of Gaza’s cities, allow freedom of movement in the Strip, cease drone activity over Gaza, and double the amount of aid, says the WSJ.
The next stage would see Hamas release female IDF soldiers and Israeli bodies, as Israel releases more prisoners.
The third phase would have Israel pull back troops to the Gaza border, while Hamas free soldiers and fighting age men.
Egyptians officials tell WSJ that there would be then be talks about a permanent ceasefire, normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia in addition to other Arab countries, and a new process leading to a Palestinian state.
Egyptian officials add that Israel is pushing for a two-week ceasefire, and is avoiding talks about a permanent ceasefire.
Negotiations on a ceasefire are set to begin in Cairo in the coming days, according to the report.
Though the article does not say what would happen to Hamas in such an agreement, it does say that Hamas’s Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar and its Doha-based politburo leader Ismail Haniyeh have not spoken in a month, and are at odds over the potential demilitarization of the Strip.
