The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 31st (local time), citing American and Arab officials, that the United States is pushing for a long-term ceasefire that would weaken Israel's military actions and lay the foundation for a cessation of continued fighting.
According to reports, William Burns, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who leads the U.S. negotiating team, believes that if Israel and the Palestinian armed political faction Hamas cease fighting for a long period of time, it will be difficult for Israel to resume the war at the current intensity, these officials said.
According to a draft agreement drawn up at a recent four-party meeting between the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt held in Paris, France, Israel and Hamas are considering a three-stage ceasefire that would sequentially release hostages through a six-week ceasefire.
In the first phase, Israel will suspend all military operations in the Gaza Strip, including drone reconnaissance, for six weeks. Hamas releases hostages, including the elderly, the sick, and children. Civilians are guaranteed free movement in the Gaza Strip, and relief supplies also reach the entire Gaza Strip.
If both sides comply with step 1 and move on to step 2, Hamas must release the Israeli female soldiers. More humanitarian aid is guaranteed in Gaza. At this stage, hospitals, water facilities, and bakeries will also operate normally.
Hamas has demanded the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of one female Israeli soldier. Negotiators said Israel is demanding the release of all soldiers detained in the Gaza Strip.
In the third stage, Hamas must release the Israeli male soldiers and hand over the hostage bodies to Israel. According to the negotiating team, Hamas requested the extradition of Hamas members who were killed during the Israeli raid on October 7 last year.
WSJ predicted that the third stage would be a critical stage because the Hamas leadership is using a small number of hostages as a negotiating chip and human shield strategy, and Israel is negative about the release of high-ranking Palestinian figures imprisoned in prison.
Previously, John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the White House National Security Council (NSC), said, “We are aiming for a long-term (fight) cessation,” and “We are discussing how long it will be, and it will be longer than last November, which lasted about a week.” He said.
He added, “The (Biden) administration is hoping that all sides will agree to a ceasefire that will allow for the release of hostages in Gaza and more humanitarian aid.”
Arab officials said that for a long-term ceasefire to be achieved, Israel and Hamas must narrow their differences and persuade internal hardliners, so the chances of reaching an agreement are low. However, they predicted that if the obstacles can be overcome, an agreement will be completed within a week to 10 days.
Far-right Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is maintaining a hard-line stance, saying that the hostage negotiations with Hamas will not result in the release of thousands of Palestinian terrorists.
“I am listening to statements about various types of negotiations,” he said during a visit to the Eli settlement in the West Bank on the 30th of last month. “Let me be clear, we will not end this war until we achieve all of our goals. “This means the elimination of Hamas, the return of all hostages and the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu also said that he was committed to “complete victory” and that “there will be no withdrawal of troops operating in the Gaza Strip.”
Ismail Haniyeh, chairman of Hamas' political bureau and head of Hamas' Qatar headquarters, said in a recent statement that he was formally reviewing the ceasefire plan discussed at the four-party meeting in Paris, France.
He said, “We are studying (the cease-fire proposal) based on the principle that the cessation of unjust aggression against the Gaza Strip and the complete withdrawal of the occupying forces from Gaza are the top priorities.”
Haniyeh also said, “I plan to visit Cairo, Egypt, the mediating country, soon to discuss the ceasefire plan.”
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