Ceasefire Or No Ceasefire? Israeli Forces Step Up Attacks On Gaza Amid ‘Closer Than Ever’ Peace Pact

Gaza: Israeli forces have reportedly intensified attacks on Gaza, bombing a school-turned-shelter and several homes across the Strip, and killing at least 24 people since the early Wednesday hours, reported the Aljazeera.

The attacks come despite mediators saying a ceasefire deal is ‘closer than ever’ with US President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al Sisi issuing a joint call on Israel and Hamas to conclude the agreement.

Hamas has accepted the draft agreement: Report

Palestine-based Hamas has reportedly accepted a draft agreement of ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage release deal. This comes amid the ongoing war with Israel since October 2023. This has been reported by the Associated Press, quoting two officials involved in the talks.

According to United States and Qatar’s mediators, Israel and Hamas are at the closest point to signing the deal to bring an end to the 15-month-long conflict, reported the NDTV.

Details of the deal were being finalized, the AP report claimed.

‘Ceasefire deal right on the brink…’

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been involved in finalising a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas since 2024. They also have been trying to secure the release of hostages captured during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Negotiators met in Qatar on Tuesday with an aim to strike a deal.

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari earlier told at a press conference that both sides were presented with a text and talks regarding the last details were ongoing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also said a ceasefire deal was ‘right on the brink.’

Know the proposals of the deal

According to reports, the draft of the ceasefire deal stresses upon the handover of 33 Israeli hostages by Hamas in the final week of the Biden administration. The Israeli government claim that Hamas and its allies still hold 94 hostages taken from Israel during the October 2023 attack. At least 34 of the hostages were dead, Israeli authorities believe.

On the 16th day from the deal taking effect, negotiations would start on a second stage. In this stage, the remaining living hostages would be released and the bodies of the dead hostages returned.

Next, troop withdrawal would be phased. The Israeli forces would be remaining in the border perimeter to defend Israeli border towns and villages. In addition, there would be security arrangements at the Philadelphi corridor, along the southern edge of Gaza, with Israel withdrawing from parts of it after the first few days of the deal, reported the NDTV.

Unarmed North Gaza residents would be allowed back amid an assurance that no weapons would be moved there. Israeli troops will withdraw from the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants convicted of murder or deadly attacks would also be released, but numbers would depend on the number of live hostages.

The prisoners would not be released to the West Bank and Hamas fighters who took part in the 2023, attack would not be released. There would also be a major increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.