Israel's Defence Minister, Yoav Golan, has cautioned that the war in Gaza could continue for several months. During a visit to an Israeli outpost on the Gaza border on Monday, Golan emphasized the determination to defeat Hamas as both a governing system and a military organization capable of launching attacks against Israel. Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with the families of Israeli-American hostages at the White House, coinciding with reports that international negotiators have reached a broad framework for releasing hostages and implementing a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
Sources familiar with the talks reveal that progress has been made to reach a deal for the release of hostages and bring about a pause in the conflict. A meeting was held in Paris on Sunday, with attendance from the Directors of the CIA, Egyptian and Israeli counterparts, and the Qatari Prime Minister. This was followed by a discussion in Washington on Monday, where the Qatari Prime Minister provided an overview of the broad framework developed during the Paris meeting.
According to the source, the framework proposes an initial release of civilian Israeli hostages, accompanied by a six-week ceasefire. Extension of the ceasefire would be contingent upon the release of additional hostages, including Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers, both male and female, as well as the return of hostages' bodies from Gaza. In return, Hamas expects the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, with a proposed ratio of three Palestinian prisoners for every civilian hostage. This ratio could increase for IDF soldiers.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the proposed deal, describing it as a strong and compelling proposal. He expressed optimism about the progress made during the weekend talks involving CIA Director Bill Burns and other key parties. However, it is important to note that Hamas was not present at the Paris talks, and thus their response to the proposal is crucial for its further advancement.
The Egyptian intelligence agency has delivered the proposed framework to Hamas, and sources indicate a sense of optimism regarding their response. It is clear that further negotiations are required to finalize the details and ensure all parties involved are satisfied. Nevertheless, the shared alignment among the countries involved suggests a positive outlook for the potential resolution of the hostage situation and a temporary cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community waits in anticipation, hoping for a successful outcome that will bring relief to the affected families and contribute to a more stable and peaceful future in the region.
