New Ceasefire Deal on Table: Will Netanyahu Accept Gaza Peace Proposal With 5-Year Truce?

Earlier this year, Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire, which broke down last month. Israel and Hamas accused each other of failing to continue the ceasefire. Now once again a new proposal has been presented to stop the war in Gaza.

Jerusalem: Mediators from Egypt and Qatar, who are mediating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, have presented a new formula for peace in Gaza. The BBC has given this information quoting a Palestinian official familiar with the talks. The proposal calls for a ceasefire of five to seven years in Gaza, release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, formal end of the war and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. A delegation of the extremist organization Hamas was about to reach Cairo to discuss the proposal.

The ceasefire was broken a month ago

Earlier this year, Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire, which broke down in March. After this, Israel resumed bombing Gaza. Both sides blamed each other for failure to continue it. Israel has not yet commented on the mediators' plan. The proposal is to be discussed in Cairo, in which Hamas's political council chief Mohammad Darwish and its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya will do it.

Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas

Earlier, Hamas rejected Israel's latest proposal, which included a demand for disarmament from Hamas in exchange for a six-week ceasefire. On Saturday itself, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message, in which he said that Hamas would not surrender. He said that Israel would not end the war until Hamas was destroyed and all the hostages were returned. Netanyahu had described the ceasefire on Hamas' terms as a surrender. At the same time, Hamas has demanded that Israel commit to ending the war before all hostages are released.

Hamas may give up the rule of Gaza

The BBC quoted a Palestinian official as saying that Hamas has indicated to give up the rule of Gaza and it can be handed over to any Palestinian entity agreed at the national or regional level. This could be the Palestinian Authority (PA) ruling the West Bank or a newly formed administrative body. However, Netanyahu has ruled out any role of the Palestinian administration in the future governance of Gaza.