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Israel, Hamas to cede control of Gaza to PA-linked force in deal’s 2nd phase - Washington Post

11 July 2024 15:40 (UTC +04:00)

Israel and the Hamas group have agreed to hand over control of the Gaza Strip to a new Palestinian force during the crucial second stage of a three-phase proposal for a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner release deal in the war-torn territory, the Washington Post reported Wednesday, APA reports.

Citing unnamed US officials, the report by commentator David Ignatius said that a US-trained force of 2,500 supporters of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority would be charged with security in Gaza. Members of the force are to be drawn from those who are already in Gaza and have been vetted by Israel. The force would also be backed by moderate Arab states, the report said.

There was no confirmation of the report from Israel or Hamas.

US officials told the Post that both Israel and Hamas have shown willingness to accept an “interim governance” plan that would start in the second phase of the deal.

One official told the Post that Hamas has said it is “prepared to relinquish authority to the interim governance arrangement.”

During the first six-week phase of the truce, Hamas would release 33 hostages, including all female prisoners, all men over the age of 50, and all wounded prisoners, the Post said, reiterating previously reported details.

Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners and the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw from heavily populated areas in Gaza and move toward the eastern border with Israel.

During that period, humanitarian aid supplies into Gaza would be ramped up and work could start to repair hospitals and clear rubble.

In the second phase, Hamas would release the male soldiers it is holding hostage and the two sides would negotiate an agreement on a permanent end to the fighting and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The third phase would consist of a multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza, which has been devastated by the war, and during which the bodies of the remaining dead hostages would be returned to Israel.