Families Urge Netanyahu on a Deadline Releasing Captives/ Ceasefire in Three Phases

The meeting came amid media reports Hamas will free 33 captives during the first six-week phase of a deal and has tied the release of the remaining captives to Israeli forces fully withdrawing from the Gaza Strip.

“From what we understand, at this stage, only the first phase of the deal has been fully agreed upon,” Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmet Gat was killed in Hamas captivity, told reporters at a news conference after the meeting.

“We are deeply concerned that 465 days after October 7, there is still no agreement guaranteeing the return of all hostages. We don’t want to leave anyone behind, or hear about more hostages being murdered in captivity, like Carmel,” he added.

Some 100 Israeli captives are thought to remain in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military estimates that a third of them may be dead.

Talks for a ceasefire in Gaza are underway in Doha, Qatar. Yesterday, it was announced that the two sides had agreed (in three phases) and were awaiting Israel's ratification.

Hardliners in Israel are opposed to the ceasefire agreement, seeing it as a defeat for Hamas.

They have threatened to leave Netanyahu's coalition government if the ceasefire is ratified, but have also announced that they will not vote to dissolve the government.

Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv in anticipation of a ceasefire deal, as hundreds of others marched in Jerusalem in opposition to the draft agreement currently on the table, Aljazeera reported.

Draft of Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

The Associated Press obtained a draft of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal and says officials from Egypt and Hamas have confirmed the authenticity.

Here’s what the AP is reporting:

Phase 1: (42 Days)

Hamas releases 33 captives, including female civilians and soldiers, children and civilians over 50.

On the first official day of the ceasefire, Hamas is to free three captives, then another four on the seventh day. After that, it will be released weekly.

Israel releases 30 Palestinian prisoners for each civilian captive and 50 for each female soldier.

A halt to fighting and Israeli forces move out of populated areas to the edges of the Gaza Strip.

Displaced Palestinians begin returning home; more aid enters the Strip.

Phase 2: (42 Days)

Declaration of “sustainable calm”.

Hamas frees remaining male captives (soldiers and civilians) in exchange for a yet-to-be-negotiated number of Palestinian prisoners and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

Phase 3:

Bodies of deceased Israeli captives were exchanged for bodies of deceased Palestinian fighters.

Implementation of a reconstruction plan in Gaza.

Border crossings for movement in and out of Gaza are reopened.