Will Hamas’ call for a Gaza truce be the end of a warring era?

The Hamas plan is a counteroffer to a ceasefire proposal backed by Israel and the US, which suggests a six-week cessation of hostilities and a phased release of the estimated 130 Israelis still held hostage in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The details of this proposal have not been made public, but it is believed to include some security and economic incentives for Gaza, such as easing the blockade and allowing some reconstruction projects.

The facts

The war in Gaza, which has been raging since October 2023, has claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis and has devastated the infrastructure and economy of the besieged enclave. The international community has been calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, but the efforts have been hampered by the lack of trust and the divergent demands of the two sides.

However, a recent development has raised some hopes for a possible breakthrough. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza and is considered a terrorist organization by many countries, has responded to a US-backed Israeli ceasefire proposal with its three-stage plan for a permanent end to the fighting. The plan, which was mediated by Qatar and Egypt, suggests a series of humanitarian, security, and political measures that would be implemented over 135 days.

The Hamas plan, which was revealed by the Reuters news agency includes the following points:

• A first 45-day pause in fighting, during which all Israeli women hostages, males under 19, the elderly and sick would be exchanged for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails. Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza and the reconstruction of hospitals and refugee camps would begin.

• A second phase, which would see the remaining male Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and Israeli forces leave Gaza completely.

• A third and final phase, during which both sides would exchange remains and bodies.

The plan also envisages an increase in the flow of food and other aid to Gaza, and the opening of the border crossings with Egypt and Israel. By the end of the 135 days, Hamas expects the sides to have reached an agreement on an end to the war.

The arguments

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, asserted on Wednesday that achieving complete victory in Gaza was within reach. He rejected the latest ceasefire offer from Hamas, emphasising the importance of ensuring the return of hostages still held in the besieged enclave. Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to dismantling the Palestinian Islamist movement, stating that Israel had no alternative but to bring about the collapse of Hamas.

The US administration has also expressed skepticism about the Hamas plan but has welcomed it as a sign of engagement and willingness to negotiate. President Joe Biden said that the Hamas plan was “a little over the top”, but added that there were “continuing negotiations right now”. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that there was still “a lot of work to be done” to reach a permanent ceasefire, but stressed the importance of reaching a lasting peace.

The Hamas plan has also received mixed reactions from other regional and international actors, such as Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Iran, the European Union, and the United Nations. Some have praised it as a positive and constructive step, while others have criticized it as a delaying tactic and a propaganda move.

The Hamas plan is a complex and controversial proposal that reflects the group’s political and military calculations, as well as its aspirations and grievances. It is unlikely to be accepted by Israel as it is, but it may serve as a basis for further dialogue and compromise.