The ‘negotiations’ and Hamas response

The recent round of negotiations in Qatar has ended after two days. Qatar, Egypt, and the US released a joint statement in which they stated that they presented a proposal based on Biden’s May 31st plan to “address the remaining gaps.” They announced that they will meet again in Cairo before the end of next week to discuss implementation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to visit “Tel Aviv” on Sunday, as well as Egypt and Qatar, after canceling his regional trip a few days ago. Additionally, WHO and UNICEF renewed their request for a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire to carry out a vaccination initiative of 640,000 children in light of the spread of polio.

Hamas Response

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Regarding the “Trilateral Statement on “Ceasefire Negotiations”

Since the beginning of the aggression, the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has been keen on ensuring the success of the efforts of our brothers, the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, to reach a ceasefire agreement and end the genocide against our people. The movement has affirmed its support for any effort that achieves the cessation of aggression.

Hamas has engaged in numerous rounds of negotiations and has shown all necessary flexibility and positivity to achieve the goals and interests of our people, to stop the bloodshed, and to halt the genocide against them. This would pave the way for a prisoner exchange process, provide relief to our people, allow the return of displaced persons, and rebuild what was destroyed by the aggression. In this context, the movement agreed to the mediators’ proposal on May 6, 2024, and welcomed President Biden’s announcement on May 31, 2024, as well as the related United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735.

However, the enemy responded with rejection, continued massacres against our people, and reiterated its stance that it is not serious about a permanent ceasefire. Its aggressive actions against our people were practical evidence of this.

Despite our awareness, along with the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, of the true intentions and positions of the occupation and its Prime Minister, the movement responded to the latest agreement dated July 2, 2024.

However, the enemy met this with new conditions that had not been raised throughout the negotiation process and escalated its aggression against our people, committing more massacres, culminating in the assassination of the movement’s leader, the martyr Commander Ismail Haniyeh —may Allah have mercy on him—which confirmed its intentions to continue the aggression and not reach a ceasefire agreement.

Even after the announcement of the trilateral statement, the enemy committed a heinous crime, massacring displaced persons at the Al-Tabaeen School  in the Al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza as they performed the dawn prayer on Saturday, August 10, 2024. This led to the martyrdom of more than one hundred civilians and the injury of over 250 others.

In light of this, and from a position of concern and responsibility towards our people and their interests, the movement calls on the mediators to present a plan to implement what they proposed to the movement and which was agreed upon on July 2, 2024, based on Biden’s vision and the Security Council resolution, and to compel the occupation to comply with it. This should be done instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals that provide cover for the occupation’s aggression and grant it more time to continue its genocide against our people.

The Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas
Sunday: 7th Safar 1446 AH
Corresponding to: August 11, 2024

The May 6th Proposal

(Ed Note:  The translation is not perfect by any means, but will give an idea.  https://al-akhbar.com/Palestine/381557)

Notes:  The proposal results in the release of all zionist prisoners in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, the full withdrawal of the IOF from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip.

The resistance received guarantees from mediators that the term “sustainable calm” yields a permanent ceasefire. As this was the last remaining disagreement, in light of the resistance’s flexibility on the other four conditions, the proposal was approved.

It is noteworthy that the zionist entity has not yet agreed to the proposal. Netanyahu’s office issued a statement that a zionist delegation will be sent to continue indirect negotiations despite that the proposal is “far from “israel’s” necessary requirements. Resistance sources confirmed that Hamas is sending a delegation to Cairo tomorrow as well.

Proposal: According to the “Hamas” movement, Monday, May 6, 2024 Basic principles of an agreement between the Israeli side and the Palestinian side in Gaza on the exchange of detainees and prisoners between the two sides and the return of sustainable calm The framework agreement aims to release all Israeli civilians and soldiers in the Gaza Strip, whether they are alive or not, from all periods and times in exchange for agreed numbers of prisoners in Israeli prisons, return to sustainable calm and achieve a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and reconstruction.

The framework agreement consists of 3 connected and interrelated stages, which are as follows:

The first stage (42 days): 1-the temporary cessation of mutual military operations between the parties, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces eastward and away from densely populated areas to an area along the border in all areas of the Gaza Strip, including the Gaza Valley – (Netzarim axis and Kuwait roundabout) as indicated below.

2-the cessation of flights (reverse and reconnaissance) in the Gaza Strip for ten hours a day, and for 12 hours on the days of the release of detainees and prisoners. 3-The Return of the displaced to their areas of residence and withdrawal from the Gaza Valley (Netzarim axis and Kuwait roundabout): – On the third day (after the release of 3 of the detainees), the Israeli forces completely withdraw from Al-Rashid Street East to Salah al-Din Street, completely dismantle the military sites and installations in this area, and begin the return of the displaced to their areas of residence (without carrying a weapon during their return), the freedom of movement of residents in all areas of the Strip, and the entry of humanitarian aid from Al-Rashid Street from the first day without hindrance.

– On the 22nd day (after the release of half of the living detainees, including female soldiers), the Israeli forces withdraw from the center of the Strip (especially the Netzarim martyrs ‘ axis and the Kuwait roundabout) east of Salah al-Din Road to a nearby area along the border, the military sites and installations are completely dismantled, the IDPs continue to return to their places of residence in the north of the Strip, and the free movement of residents in all areas of the Strip. – Starting from the first day with the introduction of intensive and sufficient quantities of humanitarian aid, relief materials and fuel (600 trucks per day, including 50 fuel trucks, of which 300 for the north), including the fuel necessary for the operation of the power plant, trade and equipment necessary for the removal of rubble, rehabilitation and operation of hospitals, health centers and bakeries in all areas of the Gaza Strip, and the continuation of this throughout all stages of the agreement.

4-exchange of detainees and prisoners between the two sides: During the first phase, Hamas will release 33 Israeli detainees (alive or dead), including women (civilians and soldiers), children (under the age of 19, non-soldiers), the elderly (over the age of 50), sick and wounded civilians, in exchange for a number of prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers, according to the following: – Hamas releases all living Israeli detainees, including civilian women and children (under the age of 19, non-soldiers), in return, Israel releases 30 children and women for every Israeli detainee who is released, based on lists provided by Hamas according to the oldest detainee. – Hamas releases all senior Israeli detainees (over the age of 50) and sick and wounded civilians, in return, Israel releases 30 elderly prisoners (over 50) and sick in exchange for each Israeli detainee, based on lists provided by Hamas according to the oldest detainee.

– Hamas releases all surviving Israeli female soldiers, in return, Israel releases 50 prisoners from its prisons for every Israeli female soldier who is released (30 life sentences, 20 sentences), based on lists provided by Hamas. 5-scheduling the exchange of detainees and prisoners between the parties in the first stage:

– Hamas releases 3 of the Israeli detainees on the third day of the agreement and then Hamas releases another 3 detainees every seven days, starting with women if possible (civilians and conscripts). In the sixth week, Hamas will release all the remaining civilian detainees covered by this stage, in return, Israel will release the agreed number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, according to the lists to be submitted by Hamas.

– By the seventh day (if possible) Hamas will provide information on the numbers of Israeli detainees who will be released at this stage. – On the 22nd, the Israeli side will release all the prisoners of the Shalit Deal who have been rearrested. – In the event that the number of living Israeli detainees to be released does not reach 33, the number of bodies from the same categories will be completed for this stage.in return, Israel will release all those arrested from the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023, Women and children (under the age of 19), provided that this is done in the fifth week of this stage.

– The exchange process is linked to the extent of compliance with the terms of the agreement, including the cessation of mutual military operations, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of displaced persons and the entry of humanitarian assistance. 6-completion of the necessary legal procedures to ensure that the freed Palestinian prisoners are not arrested on the same charges as they were previously arrested.

7.the keys of the first stage described above do not constitute a basis for negotiating the keys of the second stage.

8-lifting the measures and penalties taken against prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and concentration camps after October 7, 2023, and improving their conditions, including those arrested after this date.

9 – no later than the 16th day of the first stage, indirect talks will be initiated between the parties on agreeing on the details of the second stage of this agreement regarding the keys to the exchange of prisoners and detainees from the parties (soldiers and the remaining men), provided that they are completed and agreed upon before the end of the fifth week of this stage.

10-the United Nations and its agencies, including UNRWA and other international organizations, carry out their work in providing humanitarian services in all areas of the Gaza Strip, and continue to do so at all stages of the agreement.

11-start the rehabilitation of infrastructure (electricity, water, sewage, communications and roads) in all areas of the Gaza Strip, the introduction of the necessary equipment for Civil Defense, the removal of rubble and rubble, and the continuation of this at all stages of the agreement.

12-facilitating the introduction of the necessary supplies and requirements to accommodate and accommodate the displaced who lost their homes during the war (at least 60 thousand temporary housing – caravan – and 200 thousand tents).

13-starting from the first day of this phase, an agreed number (at least 50) of wounded military personnel will be allowed to travel through the Rafah crossing for medical treatment, increasing the number of sick and wounded through the Rafah crossing, lifting restrictions on travelers and returning the movement of goods and trade without restrictions.

14-start the necessary arrangements and plans for the comprehensive reconstruction of houses, civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure destroyed by the war and compensation for those affected under the supervision of a number of countries and organizations, including Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

15-all actions at this stage, including the temporary cessation of mutual military operations, relief and shelter, withdrawal of troops, etc., continue in the second stage until the declaration of sustainable calm (cessation of military and hostile operations).

The Second Stage (42 days): The announcement of the return of sustainable calm (cessation of military and hostile operations) and its entry into force before the start of the exchange of detainees and prisoners between the parties – all the remaining Israeli men alive (civilians and soldiers) – in exchange for an agreed number of prisoners in Israeli prisons and detainees in Israeli concentration camps, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

The third stage (42 days): 1-exchanging the bodies and remains of the dead on both sides after reaching them and identifying them. 2-start implementing the reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip for a period of 3 to 5 years, including houses, civil facilities and infrastructure, and compensate all those affected under the supervision of a number of countries and organizations, including Egypt, the United Nations and the United Nations. 3-end the complete blockade on the Gaza Strip. Guarantors of the agreement: Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and the United Nations

Notes:

No doubt further statements will be forthcoming and it will be interesting to see where and how the negotiating team tries to water down and break the previous agreement.   It is another question requiring another answer how committed the US is to war in the region, if it is not only the Palestinians that are mass murdered.  What we can expect is further escalation on the ground by the zionist entity because that is what they do.  They will try to kill as many as they can just before someone calls them to account and they must stop.

Al-Mayadeen quoting Israeli media:  “The summary of the talks in Qatar is that they [israeli & American regime] are trying to create a sense of success and progress as part of an effort to maintain calm in the region.”

And that is true, as suddenly the word ‘implementation’ is writ large, without Hamas confirming anything from their side.

A few more comments:

– from Marwa Osman:   Do not believe a single word that comes out of the meeting of the genocide enablers in Qatar.  Only believe what comes out of the mouth of the resistance in Gaza.  That is the only side I trust…and that side is not even present in Qatar.

– from Vanessa Beeley:  The never ending ceasefire farce:  Channel 13 Israel, citing an Israeli official: There are gaps because the American proposal did not address the Netzarim and Philadelphi axes.

– even Reuters, citing a Hamas leader: What the movement was informed of today about the results of the Doha meetings does not include commitment to what was agreed upon on July 2.

Dead on arrival?  The worms are wriggling.

– Lebanese Journalist, Khalil Nasrallah: The U.S. State Department says that “the ceasefire agreement proposed by President Biden has been accepted by the parties,” but they also announce that they do not want to set a timeline for the Doha negotiations.

This time-playing tactic indicates maneuvering and deception and cannot be separated from attempts to delay or reduce the scale of the Axis’s response.

– Trump is doing his fair share even while we know he will say anything for a vote.  He does believe he already rules the world.

Trump: If you hate Israel, we don’t want you in our country. I will arrest and deport all Hamas and jihad supporters.

Trump: If Kamala wins, terrorist armies will wage a non-stop war to expel Jews from the Holy Land. Iran and its proxies will spread bloodshed and death throughout the world as they continue to set the world on fire.

Trump: I will ban the resettlement of refugees from terrorist areas such as the Gaza Strip.

We will arrest the pro-Hamas thugs who are vandalizing federal property.
American taxpayers do not subsidize the establishment of terrorist sponsors on American soil.
Colleges will stop anti-Semitic propaganda, or lose their accreditation and every single federal support.

Trump: As your president, I will stand once again with Israel and protect jewish communities.  (You can see the Adelson woman’s massive donations doing their work).

Trump: I put America first, protect America, and I will defend “Judeo-Christian civilization” against the barbarian savages and left-wing extremists who want to destroy it.

Together we will fight the anti-Semitic forces and we will win and save Israel.

Trump is raging in his latest speech:  Jews and Israel are now in the greatest danger since the Holocaust as bloodthirsty Iranian regime is preparing a large scale assault on Israel, Hamas is waging a savage war in the south, Hezbollah is in the north, and the Houthis terrorists are attacking in the sea. The streets of Paris, London and Brussels are ruled by Hamas supporters chanting jihad slogans, and in America, evil anti-Semitism is spread by the Democrats and one of the presidential candidates.

– It’s another ‘buying time’ boondoggle with the US trying to run roughshod over everyone.

Palestinian resistance expert Hani Al-Dali to Al-Mayadeen:

Washington is trying to create a complex military & political reality in the face of the expected response of the Resistance Nexus. They are trying to buy time to prepare the largest possible defenses to repel the expected response from the Resistance.

We already expected this result at the Doha negotiations.

Netanyahu was practicing deception and did not provide answers to all the questions to reach an agreement. Netanyahu sets new conditions, undermines what was previously agreed upon, and his goal is to continue the war.

We will not allow the occupation in any way in any part of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu wants to propose a new formula for negotiation from the beginning to gain more time.

What was reported in the Wall Street Journal about Israel’s readiness to withdraw from the corridor is not true.

Israel wants to leave a loophole in the agreement so that it can return to war later.

No agreement can pass without a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation, the return of the displaced, and the exchange of prisoners.

Our position is strong and firm and all factions agree on it, and we will no longer enter into any futile negotiations.

‼️ The Iranian response & Hezbollah’s response are their right and have a different path than the negotiations.

Hezbollah has been fighting for more than 10 months and offering martyrs, and it is thanked for what it is doing, and the occupation only understands the language of force.