Hamas says open to releasing all hostages for 5-year truce: source
A Hamas delegation led by senior leader Khalil al-Hayya agreed in Cairo to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for a five-year truce, according to an Egyptian security source.
The source described talks on Saturday as “very important” for advancing efforts to end the war in Gaza, noting that the Hamas delegation accepted the five-year truce proposal after reviewing various offers.
So far, Israel has not formally responded to any of the proposals, but has given the green light for negotiations to continue regarding the release of hostages, the source added.
Egypt’s Al-Qahera News TV channel reported the Hamas delegation would also discuss a comprehensive deal that ensures the full withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Gaza, and securing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave. Talks are expected to include the formation of a committee to manage Gaza’s administration.
Israel halted the entry of aid supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the expiration of the first six-week phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that started on Jan. 19. Israel claimed the move was due to Hamas’ rejection of its offer to extend the first phase. Israeli forces then resumed strikes across Gaza on March 18, effectively ending the phased truce.
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have been ongoing for weeks, aiming to end the prolonged conflict in Gaza, which erupted in October 2023.
New Vice-President
The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) approved the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as vice president of its executive committee and the State of Palestine.
The appointment of al-Sheikh came during a meeting held in the central West Bank city of Ramallah, chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO’s Executive Committee said in a press statement.
The statement noted that the PLO’s Executive Committee will meet next Saturday to select a new secretary-general from among its members to replace al-Sheikh, who now still holds the position.
According to the statement, during the meeting, Abbas stressed the initiation of a comprehensive national dialogue led by a joint committee appointed by the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee, with all factions to achieve reconciliation and strengthen national unity within the framework of the PLO.
Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, told Xinhua that the new position was created following the amendment of Article 13 of the Palestinian Basic Law regarding members of the executive committee.
The PLO Central Council decided on Thursday to create the position of vice president of its executive committee and the State of Palestine. Al-Sheikh’s appointment marks the first time such a position has been established since the PLO’s founding.
More Attacks in Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that since the resumption of fighting in Gaza on March 18, it has attacked more than 1,800 targets in the strip.
The statement added that hundreds of Palestinian militants, including dozens of commanders and mid-level operatives as well as government operatives, were killed during the period.
The IDF’s operations were carried out through three divisions under the direction of the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Security Agency, the statement said, adding that two of the divisions operate in the southern Gaza Strip and another in the north, all through eight brigade combat teams.
The IDF said that over the past 48 hours, its air force attacked an Islamic Jihad weapons depot in the Al-Daraj and Al-Tuffah neighborhoods in Gaza City.
It also reported attacks in the Shabura and Tel al-Sultan neighborhoods in Rafah, destroying dozens of infrastructures, shafts, and weapons caches, “deepening control of the area and eliminating several terrorists.”
