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Key Points from Trump’s Comprehensive ‘Ceasefire Proposal’ for the Gaza Strip?

Assuming each faction consent to a comprehensive set of requirements, the cessation of hostilities will be paired with the freeing of all Israeli hostages, both dead and alive, “in under three days” of Israel’s leadership officially endorsing the deal.

As a trade for the freeing of captives, Israeli authorities would free a group of 250 Palestinians at present completing indefinite prison terms and 1,700 Palestinians in the Gaza region held since the hostilities erupted on October 7, 2023 following the lethal assault by Hamas on Israeli soil.

For each captive from Israel whose body is returned, Israeli officials will release the corpses of 15 Palestinian fatalities.

This proposal does not necessitate a total Israeli retreat before the captive release. On the contrary, Israeli forces would retreat to an agreed upon line, inside of Gaza’s territory, to get ready for a captive liberation.

The plan indicates that all military operations, such as air strikes and shelling, will be halted throughout the liberation procedure and battle lines will be maintained until “requirements are satisfied for the complete staged withdrawal”.

When all hostages are freed, pardon will be given to Hamas affiliates – the Islamist military group that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has consistently pledged to eradicate – who consent to peaceful coexistence and to surrender their arms.

People who want to exit Gaza territory will be offered safe passage to countries who have approved their entry.

The comprehensive strategy envisages Gaza as “an area free from radicalization and terror that poses zero any danger to adjacent states”. In a separate point, it declares the area will be “reconstructed for the welfare of the inhabitants of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough”.

Importantly, and in defiance of the outlook of a few of the far-right allies of Netanyahu, the Israeli government will refrain from occupying or take over the territory, which was home to 21 Israeli settlements prior to their populace was removed in 2005.

Furthermore, not any person be forced to leave Gaza territory, the plan promises. Those who wish to leave will be permitted to do so without restriction and permitted to return.

Hamas as an entity will not be allowed any participation, “directly or indirectly”, in the future governance of the territory.

Donald Trump Encourages Negotiators to ‘Move Fast’ as They Gather in Egypt for Gaza Negotiations

Donald Trump has called on delegates from Hamas and Israel assembling in Egypt for key negotiations focused on halting Israel’s war in Gaza to “move fast,” remarking, in statements on Sunday morning, that there had been “very positive” conversations.

The US president commented:

We have had highly favorable talks with Hamas representatives, and Nations from across the planet (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) during the weekend, to liberate the detainees, halt the conflict in the Gaza region but, more importantly, finally have long sought peace in the Middle East.

These talks have been extremely effective, and advancing swiftly. The technical teams will meet once more Monday, in Egypt, to tackle and clarify the last points. I am told that the initial stage will likely finish this week, and I am urging all parties to ACT QUICKLY.

America’s representative Envoy Witkoff is slated to attend the negotiations, according to Israeli media, alongside Israel’s negotiators and a Palestinian delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya, the vice chairman of the political bureau of Hamas.

Al-Hayya is scheduled to have discussions with intermediaries from Egypt and Qatar in Cairo today in the morning, prior to negotiations in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

However, the lead negotiator for Israel, the strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, is slated to attend talks later this week, pending advancements in the discussions, according to three Israeli officials.

Hope regarding a prospective cessation of hostilities has grown across the world, with western and Arab leaders encouraging both Hamas and Israel to come to a deal. On Sunday, the Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, spoke with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and showed approval for the Trump initiative, describing it as “the best chance for stability”, as per a official statement.