Qatar Attempts Agreement on 'Release of 50 Hostages and Three-Day Ceasefire' in Israel-Palestine

Qatar, which has been mediating hostage and ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, is reportedly attempting to reach an agreement with both sides on a plan for the release of 50 hostages and a three-day ceasefire, according to major foreign media on the 15th (local time).

On the 8th of last month (local time), a building collapsed in the Gaza Strip due to an Israeli airstrike. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to officials briefed on the negotiations, the plan, coordinated with the United States, includes Hamas releasing 50 hostages captured during its surprise attack on Israel on the 7th of last month, and Israel agreeing to a three-day ceasefire. The plan also includes the release of Palestinian women and children imprisoned in Israeli jails and an expansion of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

However, the exact number of Palestinian prisoners to be released as specified in the plan has not been confirmed.

The source reported that Hamas has agreed to the outline of the plan, but Israel has not agreed and continues to negotiate the details.

According to major foreign media, although the negotiation situation led by Qatar has recently changed significantly, the current focus is on the "release of 50 civilian hostages and a three-day ceasefire."

However, Israeli media reports surrounding the negotiations are conflicting. The daily Haaretz reported that the negotiations have faced a crisis due to differences in views between Hamas and Israel over key agenda items.

According to Arab and Palestinian sources, Hamas proposed a five-day ceasefire period, while Israel insisted on a maximum three-day ceasefire.

The same media reported that Hamas demanded a ban on Israeli drone operations within the Gaza Strip and free movement between the northern and southern parts of Gaza during the ceasefire period, but Israel firmly rejected these demands.

However, Hebrew-language Israeli media are forecasting that the negotiations between the two sides will be concluded within a few days, according to the daily Times of Israel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.