In a significant development in efforts to de-escalate the conflict in Gaza, and after nearly 21 months of war in the Palestinian enclave, a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal has been announced. Hopes are high that the initiative may provide a pathway out of the protracted war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population.
اضافة اعلان
The proposal, which U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Israel has accepted, outlines a 60-day truce that includes hostage and prisoner exchanges, gradual Israeli military withdrawals, and U.S. guarantees for serious negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire.
Key Details of the Proposal:
Phases of Hostage and Body Returns (According to a source familiar with the negotiations):
Day 1: Release of 8 Israeli hostages
Day 7: Return of 5 bodies
Day 30: Return of 5 additional bodies
Day 50: Release of 2 hostages
Day 60: Return of 8 more bodies
These exchanges will occur without public ceremonies or media coverage. On Day 10, Hamas is expected to provide medical reports and identification details for remaining live hostages. Israel, in return, will provide information on Palestinian prisoners captured since October 7, 2023.
Prisoner Exchange:
Hamas will release hostages in tandem with the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The estimated number of hostages held by Hamas and allied groups is around 50, with roughly 20 believed to still be alive.
Humanitarian Aid:
The agreement ensures immediate and sufficient humanitarian aid enters Gaza, facilitated by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, based on prior agreements signed on January 19, 2025.
Israeli Military Withdrawal:
Day 1: Withdrawal from designated areas in northern Gaza (based on agreed-upon maps)
Day 7: Withdrawal from areas in the south
A joint technical team will finalize the maps during implementation talks.
Negotiations for a Permanent Ceasefire:
These will begin on Day 1 of the truce, covering:
Exchange of remaining hostages and prisoners
Long-term security arrangements for Gaza
Declaration of a permanent ceasefire
If a final agreement is reached, all Palestinian prisoners detained since the beginning of the war will be released.
International Guarantees:
President Trump has personally committed to ensuring U.S. backing and enforcement of the proposal.
Mediators (Washington, Doha, and Cairo) are tasked with facilitating serious negotiations during the truce and may extend the ceasefire if needed to secure a lasting agreement.
This initiative follows a recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran, which ended a 12-day military confrontation, and is viewed as a U.S. attempt to revive the negotiation track in Gaza amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and increasing international pressure on both sides.
— (Agencies)
