The Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups, designated terrorist groups by the United States and the European Union, rejected Egypt’s offer to give up power in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. This was reported by Reuters, citing sources in the Egyptian security services.
According to the agency’s interlocutors, Egypt, one of the mediators in the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, offered to hold elections, assuring Hamas that its members would not be persecuted or prosecuted. Representatives of the group at the negotiations in Cairo rejected any concessions other than the handing over of people captured on October 7 in southern Israel in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. asserts Reuters.
Representatives of the jihadists, in a conversation with the agency, said that they insist on increasing the volume of humanitarian aid for the entire population of Gaza.
See also IRGC General threatened to blockade Gibraltar and other sea routes
In addition, Islamic Jihad, for its part, argues that the prisoner exchange should take place according to the “all for all” formula, which means the release of all hostages held in Gaza for all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
According to the latest data, the groups are holding about 130 people captured during the attack on southern Israel on October 7.
The Egyptian TV channel Al-Sharq, citing sources, revealed some details of the plan to end the war, which Cairo proposed to Israel and Hamas.
At the first stage supposed humanitarian truce for up to three weeks. During this time, the Palestinian faction must release 40 Israeli captive women, children and elderly men, and Israel must release 120 Palestinian prisoners of the same categories and send fuel and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
At the second stage, a government should be formed in Gaza, which will restore the sector and begin preparations for general elections of the head of the Palestinian Authority.
The third stage provides for a complete ceasefire, the release of all captured Israeli soldiers in exchange for a certain number of Palestinian prisoners. At this point, the IDF must leave the sector and the refugees must return to their homes.
See also Hamas rejects Israel’s proposal for a one-week truce
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a speech in parliament statedthat he visited the Gaza Strip on December 25. According to the prime minister, he met with the military and assured that Israel will continue the operation against Hamas until the group is destroyed. Netanyahu has promised that military action will be expanded.
Amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, media reported an Israeli strike on a Damascus suburb that killed senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officer Sayeda Mousavi. As the Iranian Tasnim agency notes, he was an ally of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who died in 2020 as a result of a US attack in Iraq.
Guardian Corps threatened to take revenge on Israel for the death of the general.
The Israeli side did not comment on a possible attack on the suburbs of the Syrian capital.
More Radio Liberty news:
2023-12-25 20:05:12
#Hamas #refused #surrender #power #Gaza #exchange #peace #plan
