Hamas proposes 3-phase plan to end Gaza war

Hamas proposed its own 3-step plan to halt the war in Gaza. The proposal includes exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, a withdrawal of Israel’s forces and the reconstruction of war-devastated Gaza strip.

Reuters reported that the proposal calls for a 3-phase truce that will last 45 days each. However, the Guardian reported that the far-reaching proposal is unlikely to materialise as Israel previously vowed to not pull troops before Hamas is wiped out.

The first phase of the proposal focuses on exchange of hostages and prisoners. Hamas agreed to release all Israeli women hostages, males under 19 and the elderly and sick. In exchange, Israel would have to free Palestinian women and children from its jails. Israel would also need to withdraw its troops from populated areas during the first phase.

The news comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Israel to negotiate a possible truce.

“We will be working as hard as we possibly can to try to get an agreement so that we can move forward with - not only a renewed but an expanded agreement on hostages - and all the benefits that that would bring with it,” Blinken said on Tuesday.

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