– / AFP
Aerial view of destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, on April 22.
INTERNATIONAL – The path to a ceasefire? If the war in Gaza has been exported to the benches of American (and French) universities in recent hours, in Israel, the negotiations to reach a truce are entering a new stage under the leadership of Egypt, which is trying to to accelerate the discussions, which have been close to a standstill for many weeks.
The Palestinian Islamist movement has also indicated that it is considering this Saturday, April 27, an Israeli counter-proposal for a truce in the fighting in the Gaza Strip, associated with a new release of hostages. A counter-proposal from the Hebrew State which also responds “ to the position that had been handed over to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13 », as indicated by the number 2 of the political branch of Hamas for Gaza.
The proposal formulated in mid-April aimed to insist on a permanent ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave. A proposed truce with Israel, where Hamas also reaffirmed its “requirements” to reach an agreement. Which implies the non-negotiable withdrawal of the Israeli army “from the entire Gaza Strip”, “the return of displaced people to their areas and places of residence”, And ” intensifying the entry of humanitarian aid “.
Demands in almost complete opposition to those of Israel, still opposed to the idea of a permanent ceasefire and which instead imagines a truce in fighting lasting several weeks before carrying out its land operation in Rafah. A project announced long ago by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Egypt pleads for release of hostages
Despite the absence of details on the new proposal formulated by the Israeli side, the national press mainly mentions the question of hostages. The number of 20 hostages considered as “humanitarian cases” would also be on the menu of negotiations with the mediating countries.
The latter have in fact been trying since Friday, through an Egyptian delegation, to discuss with Israel the idea of a “comprehensive framework for a ceasefire” in Gaza, as mentioned by the Egyptian media close to intelligence Al-Qahera News.
It must be said that negotiations between Israel and Hamas have not been moving forward for several weeks, hence Egypt’s repeated efforts in recent hours to try to move forward on the sensitive issue of the release of the hostages in a more comprehensive agreement. wide for a truce. Because the last truce including an agreement to release hostages already dates from November 2023.
Moreover, the subject should also be discussed throughout this weekend between Arab and European diplomats gathered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for talks where the head of French diplomacy, Stéphane Séjourné, will be present.
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