Haggling over hostages

USA proposes new compromise for Gaza deal

CIA Director William Burns (2nd from left) is currently with Egypt's President al-Sisi (center) in Cairo

(Bild: APA/AFP/EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY)

According to media reports, the USA wants to help the indirect negotiations on a ceasefire to succeed with a new compromise proposal. CIA Director Williams Burns presented a proposal in Cairo on Sunday evening. Under the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, the possible release of further hostages is being negotiated there - and the age, gender and condition of each individual is being haggled over.

As the "Wall Street Journal" reported on Monday (local time), citing Arab mediators, the proposal presented by Burns envisages Hamas releasing 40 of the more than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip during a six-week ceasefire.

This would be in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners - including 100 sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Israelis. The news portal "Axios" also reported on Burns' new proposal, which, according to Israeli officials, is based on conditions that were discussed during earlier negotiations. The new proposal demands compromises from both parties to the conflict.

Both sides to make concessions
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Egyptian and Qatari mediators expect Hamas and Israel to respond to the new proposal by Tuesday evening. Hamas would have to make concessions regarding the number and identity of the hostages to be released. Israel, in turn, would have to make compromises regarding the return of displaced Palestinian civilians to the northern Gaza Strip, reported "Axios". A key point concerns Israel's demand that Hamas release 40 of the presumably 100 hostages still alive, even if some of them do not meet the original criteria for release on humanitarian grounds, the news portal reported.

Hamas recently rejected proposal
The first phase of an agreement would provide for the release of women, female soldiers, men over 50 and men under 50 with serious medical problems. In the most recent negotiations, a Hamas representative explained that the proposal for a ceasefire was rejected because there were no 40 living hostages from these categories. Senior Israeli officials considered this to be true. Israel therefore proposed to fill the gap with soldiers or men under the age of 50 who are being held hostage. In return, Israel would then release a higher number of Palestinian prisoners for each of these hostages, officials were quoted as saying.

Israel had also made it clear that it would compromise on the issue of the return of civilians to the northern Gaza Strip if Hamas agreed to this aspect of the deal, they said. The US proposal envisages a gradual and almost complete Israeli withdrawal from the corridor that divides the coastal area and prevents displaced Palestinians from returning to the north.

Fighters should not mingle with civilians
Israel wants to prevent Hamas fighters from mingling with civilians when they return. However, it is not clear whether Hamas will agree to the compromise and is prepared to release hostages who are soldiers or men under the age of 50. Hamas sees the latter as a means of exerting pressure to force a permanent ceasefire.