ISRAEL PROPOSES UP TO TWO-MONTH CEASEFIRE IN RETURN FOR RELEASE OF CAPTIVES: AXIOS

Mon 22 January 2024:

The proposal, according to Axios, would involve a multiphase deal that would see the release in stages of more than 130 captives held in Gaza in return for an up to two-month ceasefire and the release of an as yet undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners.

The report, citing two Israeli officials, added that Israeli forces would be redeployed out of the main population centres of Gaza, allowing a “gradual return” of Palestinian civilians to Gaza City and the north of the enclave, and the officials said that after the two months are completed, the Israeli military’s operations in Gaza would be “significantly smaller in scope and intensity” than the current fighting.

Hamas has previously said that in exchange for the release of the captives, it demands a total end to the war and the release of all Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli government is under pressure from a protest movement led by family members of captives, which is demanding an immediate deal.

‘No change’ in US opposition to ceasefire

The White House’s Kirby says Washington supports pauses in the fighting to allow the release of captives but it still opposes ending the war.

“We don’t support a general ceasefire, which is usually put in place in the expectation that you’re going to end a conflict and lead to specific negotiations – no change to our policy there.”

Israeli survey respondents back ‘demilitarised’ Palestinian state

The opinion poll suggests that a slight majority of Israelis back a plan that would see the release of captives held in Gaza in exchange for an end to the war, a normalisation agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and an Israeli agreement for the eventual establishment of a demilitarised Palestinian state.

A survey carried out by the Midgam Institute and commissioned by the Geneva Initiative saw 51.3 percent of respondents back the deal with 28.9 percent opposing. Half the respondents also said they would not support the presence of Israeli troops in Gaza for another three years with 32 percent saying they would be supportive.

Many Palestinians oppose the concept of a “demilitarised” state, seeing it as effectively limiting their sovereignty.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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