Israel has proposed a release of hostages by Hamas in exchange for a truce in its offensive and the Islamist organization has shown signs of accepting the proposal. This is at least what the Government of Qatar has announced, which has been acting as a mediator.

Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani confirmed on Monday that the parties have discussed a possible agreement. This Thursday a spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry said that Hamas had given “positive initial confirmation” to the proposal.. However, the Palestinian group denied it within a few hours.

“That proposal has been approved by the Israeli side and now we have a first positive confirmation from the Hamas side,” said that spokesman.. “We are optimistic because both sides have now accepted the premise that would lead to an upcoming pause. “We hope that in the coming weeks we can share good news about this,” he added.

“There is no agreement yet”

A Qatari official clarified to Reuters that “there is still no agreement” and that, although “Hamas has positively received the proposal,” Qatar was “waiting for its response.”. In fact, shortly after, an official from the Islamist group declared to that agency that they had received the truce proposal from Paris, but: “We have not responded to any of the parties, it is still being studied.”. A senior Hamas official has announced that they will give a response “very soon.”

“We have not responded to any of the parties, it is still being studied.”

The organization that opposes Israel has said it is studying the text and preparing a response. “We cannot say that the current phase of the negotiation is zero and, at the same time, we cannot say that we have reached an agreement,” said Taher al-Nono, media advisor to Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

What does this truce consist of?

The proposal has been drafted collaboratively by senior officials from the United States, Israel, Qatar and Egypt. From what has emerged from the ongoing negotiation, the agreement would include a staggered truce in which women and children would be released first and humanitarian aid would be allowed into the besieged Gaza Strip.

“We cannot say that the current phase of the negotiation is zero and, at the same time, we cannot say that we have reached an agreement.”

A Palestinian official has explained that the text agreed between Israel and the US in the talks held in Paris last week foresees a first phase of 40 days. The fighting would cease and in exchange Hamas would release the civilians among the more than 100 hostages it still holds.. In a later phase they would free the Israeli soldiers and hand over the bodies of the dead hostages.

According to other sources involved, the draft being negotiated contemplates several stages, the first of which would stipulate the release of 35 civilian hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a complete cessation of Israel's operations in Gaza for 45 days.

“I think we have moved to a point that could lead to a permanent ceasefire in the future.”

The Prime Minister of Qatar explained that Hamas had demanded a permanent ceasefire as a precondition for entering into negotiations. “I think we have moved from that point to another point that could lead to a permanent ceasefire in the future,” he said.. According to Al Thani, the talks are “in a much better place than where we were a few weeks ago.”

The Hamas proposal that Netanyahu rejected

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas's proposal to end the war and free captives in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of prisoners and the acceptance of the Gaza government by part of the armed group. The Israeli prime minister stated that accepting Hamas' conditions would mean leaving the armed group “intact” and that Israeli soldiers would have “fallen in vain.”

If there is an agreement, this would be the second truce after the one agreed between November 24 and 30, which allowed the exchange of 105 hostages, including some foreigners, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Why Qatar?

Netanyahu has “accused” Qatar of not having used its influence to pressure Hamas. In response, the Qatari prime minister has said that his country is not “a superpower that can impose something on one party.”

Hamas political office and Ismail Haniyeh's main residence are in Qatar

Doha houses Hamas' political office and is Haniyeh's main residence. “We are using our good offices to connect, bridge distances and propose some alternatives. And this route has worked,” he said, referring to previous mediations facilitated by Qatar.

Around 240 people were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, after the group's fighters launched a surprise attack from Gaza on southern Israel that killed at least 1,139 people, according to Israeli figures.. Israel responded with a devastating bombing and ground invasion of Gaza, which has already cost the lives of almost 27,000 people.