Potential Hostage deal Faces hurdles as Hamas Responds to Proposed Terms
Negotiations for a potential resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas are at a critical juncture following Hamas’ conditional acceptance of a proposed deal brokered by the United States. While the response signals a willingness to engage, significant obstacles remain, particularly regarding the future of Hamas’ armed presence and the timeline for hostage release.
The proposed agreement, as outlined by former U.S. President Donald Trump, involves Israel releasing 1,700 Gaza residents detained since October 7, 2023, alongside approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences.In return, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages it holds, 20 of whom are still alive, within a 72-hour timeframe.
A key component of the deal stipulates Hamas relinquishing its 18-year rule over the Gaza Strip, transferring control to a body of “technocratic” Palestinians overseen by a “Board of Peace” co-chaired by Trump and former British Prime Minister tony Blair. Though, Hamas’ acceptance is contingent on further negotiations, specifically concerning the disarmament of its forces.
Hamas maintains it will only consider surrendering its weapons as part of a broader agreement leading to the establishment of an autonomous Palestinian state. Moussa Abu Marzouk,a senior Hamas official,emphasized this position in a statement to Al Jazeera,asserting that the Palestinian issue extends beyond Hamas and requires a complete national framework. He also raised concerns about the feasibility of locating and releasing all remaining hostages within the stipulated 72-hour window, calling the condition “unreasonable” and requesting clarification on withdrawal lines.
Analysts describe Hamas’ response as deliberately ambiguous, leaving room for further negotiation. Bader Al-Saif, a professor at Kuwait University, characterized it as “vague and incomplete,” noting that it places the onus back on Israel to provide further details and guarantees.
The situation is further elaborate by internal divisions within the Israeli government. Prime minister Netanyahu’s coalition relies on hard-right factions who advocate for the complete destruction of Hamas and the establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza. Conversely, growing international pressure, including accusations of genocide from the U.N., rights groups, and Western allies, is isolating Israel and raising questions about the continuation of the military offensive. Israel denies the genocide allegations.
According to Gaza health officials, over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 251 others.
Mouin Rabbani, a nonresident fellow at the Qatar-based Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, believes the current moment is decisive.”It’s crunch time,” he stated, suggesting the next step will reveal whether the U.S. will engage in clarifying discussions with Hamas or if Israel will attempt to leverage the conditional acceptance as justification for continuing its military operations.
