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Haaretz reveals Israel’s proposal for agreement with Hamas

September 21, 2024 at 10:07 am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024 [OHAD ZWIGENBERG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images]

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper revealed that the government official responsible for returning its hostages, Gal Hirsch, submitted a new proposal to the US regarding the deal with Hamas.

The newspaper stated that according to the proposal, all hostages held in Gaza would be released in exchange for ending the war and granting safe passage to the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Yahya Sinwar. It noted that the proposal also stipulated the departure of Sinwar’s family members and thousands of Hamas members of his choosing to a third country.

The newspaper added that once Hamas leaders leave Gaza, an agreed-upon process would begin to rebuild the Strip, noting that Hirsch submitted the proposal with the knowledge of the Israeli political leadership after the difficulties in making progress in the current ceasefire talks.

The newspaper reported that Israel will officially adopt the plan if Hamas shows its willingness to move forward with it.

Haaretz quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying that this step aims to break the deadlock in the current negotiations, which has hindered efforts to reach a ceasefire and rebuild Gaza.

Haaretz also reported that Hirsch presented the new proposal during his visit to the US last week, where he met with his US counterpart and senior officials from the White House and the US State Department.

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