Gaza - Saba:
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced that it has submitted its response to the US envoy, Steve Witkoff, to mediators regarding a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange.
The movement stated that the response includes "a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensuring the flow of aid to our people and our residents in the Strip."
The movement's response included the release of 10 living Israeli prisoners and 18 bodies in several batches, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners during a 60-day ceasefire. During this period, negotiations will be held to end the genocide and withdraw Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Four living prisoners will be released on the first day, two living prisoners on the 30th day, and four living prisoners on the 60th day. Six bodies will be released on the 10th day, six on the 30th day, and six on the 50th day.
According to the movement's response, "aid will be delivered to Gaza immediately after the ceasefire agreement is approved, in accordance with the humanitarian protocol included in the January 19, 2025 agreement, through the United Nations, its agencies, and other organizations, including the Red Crescent."
The response included a clause regarding "rehabilitating infrastructure (electricity, water, sanitation, communications, and roads) and bringing in necessary materials, including construction materials; rehabilitating and operating hospitals, health centers, schools, and bakeries in all areas of the Gaza Strip; allowing Gaza residents to travel to and from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing without any restrictions; and resuming the movement of goods and trade."
According to Hamas' response, during the negotiations, arrangements and plans will be finalized for the reconstruction of homes, facilities, and infrastructure destroyed during the war and for supporting those affected by the war. The plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will begin over a period of three to five years under the supervision of several countries and organizations, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
The response emphasized that "all Israeli military activities in Gaza will cease upon the entry into force of this agreement." During the ceasefire period, airspace (military and reconnaissance) will be halted in the Gaza Strip for 10 hours daily, and during the days of prisoner and detainee exchanges, for 12 hours."
The response also includes "the withdrawal of Israeli forces: On the first day, four living Israeli prisoners will be released, and Israeli forces will withdraw to their positions prior to March 2, 2025, in all areas of the Gaza Strip, according to the maps stipulated in the January 19, 2025 agreement."
Regarding the negotiations, Hamas's response stated that "on the first day, indirect negotiations will begin under the auspices of the mediators guaranteeing the permanent ceasefire, on the following topics: the keys and conditions for exchanging all remaining Israeli prisoners in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, the declaration of a permanent ceasefire, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip."
According to Hamas's response to Witkoff's proposal, "In exchange for the release of the ten living Israeli prisoners and the 18 bodies, a mutually agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and bodies will be released, and the living prisoners and bodies will be released simultaneously and according to an agreed-upon mechanism."
In a clear bias toward the Israeli enemy, US envoy Witkoff said that Hamas's response to the proposal was "completely unacceptable."
Witkoff tweeted: "I received Hamas's response to the US proposal. It is completely unacceptable and will only lead to our retreat. Hamas must accept the framework proposal we have put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately next week."
He added: "This is the only way to conclude a 60-day ceasefire agreement, under which half the living prisoners and half the dead will be returned, and through which we can conduct substantive negotiations in the proximity talks in good faith, seeking to reach a permanent ceasefire."
With American and European support, the Israeli enemy army has been committing genocidal crimes in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 54,381 civilians, the majority of whom are children and women, and the injury of 124,054 others, as of Saturday afternoon. This is a preliminary toll, with thousands of victims still under the rubble and in the streets, unable to be reached by ambulance and rescue teams.
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