Yesterday, the Beirut-based newspaper Al-Akhbar published what it says is an outline of the terms of the truce offer presented to Hamas late last week. Today, Hamas has reportedly made alterations in their counterproposal to the Israelis, but the Al-Akhbar version is of interest to review. The 124-day period, concluding with some agreement upon a rehabilitation plan for Gaza, has not been mentioned much in the Western media—and the Schiller Institute’s “Oasis Plan” provides the most direct pathway to provide plentiful benefits for both Israel and her neighbors, enough to help both sides begin to bury the hatchet. However, the key is whether the provision for working out a “sustainable calm"—a phrase that avoids mentioning an end to the war—has any chance of altering, over time, Netanyahu’s drive for permanent warfare. It asks Hamas to trust that Washington has enough intent and will to end its war, and what Hamas has seen from Washinngton gives no reason for that trust. Hamas has insisted on an end to the war, not a “sustainable calm.”
The first stage of the deal, says Times of Israel coverage of the Al-Akhbar report, to last 40 days, would involve a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of the Gaza Strip in order to allow the movement of humanitarian aid and the return of civilians to their homes. The deal would provide for 500 trucks, including 50 fuel trucks, to enter the Gaza Strip each day along with supplies designed to rehabilitate the Gaza Strip. Israel would cease aerial surveillance of Gaza Strip for eight hours each day and for 10 hours on days that hostages are released.
Hamas would release at least 33 living captives—female civilians and soldiers, children under the age of 19, the elderly, the sick, and the wounded in the first stage. For every female civilian and child released, Israel would free 20 minors and female Palestinian prisoners. For every elderly, sick and injured hostage released, Israel would free 20 prisoners over 50 who are also sick and injured, as long as they are not serving a sentence of over 10 years. For every female soldier released, Israel would free 20 prisoners serving a life sentence, and another 20 serving 10 years at most, who may be released to Gaza or abroad. Hamas would provide a list of prisoners it wants released, containing up to 20 names; Israel would retain a veto on the names provided by Hamas. From the 16th day of the truce, the sides would begin indirect negotiations on an arrangement to restore “sustainable calm” to Gaza, Al-Akhbar’s report said.
