Hamas Reviewing Paris Truce Deal, 10-to1 Prisoner-Hostage Exchange Proposed

Hamas said that it has received a draft proposal from the negotiations in Paris for a truce and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages.

According to a statement provided to Reuters on Tuesday, Feb. 27, by a source close to the truce talks, the draft proposal for the first stage of the proposed deal would last 40 days, and the prisoner-hostage exchange would be at an overall ratio of ten to one.

Other provisions in the proposal include that both parties would pause their military operations completely; aerial reconnaissance operations over Gaza would stop for eight hours a day; all Israeli hostages must be released in exchange for a specific number of Palestinian prisoners, based on the 1:10 ratio; all displaced civilians, except for men of military service age, could return to northern Gaza; and Israel would reposition its forces away from the densely populated areas in the strip.

(Photo : Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Also stipulated in the deal were the commitment to bring in 500 trucks per day of humanitarian aid, as well as providing 200,000 tents and 60,000 caravans, and allowing the rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries in Gaza, including immediately allowing the entry of necessary equipment and providing shipments of fuel for these purposes, according to quantities to be agreed upon.

In addition, Israel agreed to the entry of heavy machinery and equipment to remove rubble and assist with other humanitarian purposes, with the provision of fuel shipments necessary for such purposes, according to quantities to be agreed upon, provided that they increase over time.

Hamas should also pledge not to use the machines and equipment to threaten Israel.

It is understood that the arrangements agreed in the first phase would not apply to the second, which would be subject to subsequent separate negotiations.

The source has revealed the details on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden said that Israel agreed to halt military activities in Gaza for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as Hamas studied the draft proposal.