Israel has submitted a new proposal to the
United States to end the war in Gaza by freeing all of the remaining
hostages held by Hamas and allowing the terror group’s leader Yahya
Sinwar to exit the enclave, Kan News reported on Thursday.
The framework for the deal, which would be
achieved all in one phase, also includes safe passage out of Gaza for
other senior Hamas terrorists, the release of Palestinian security
prisoners, demilitarization of the Strip and a new system of governance
in Gaza.
Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons, Gal Hirsch, met with families of the hostages and updated them on the proposal, according to the report. Some of the relatives told Kan that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should present the proposal to the United Nations.
Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver a speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 27.
In the meeting with the families, Hirsch
reportedly said that the proposal was presented during his meetings last
week with American officials at the White House and State Department.
The proposal has been dubbed the “Safe Passage Deal,” according to sources who met with Hirsch.
“In light of the difficulties in the
negotiations and the ticking clock of the hostages’ lives, we seek to
propose a ‘secondary plan’ that will shorten the stages and allow for a
quicker deal. This will happen if Sinwar leaves and brings an end to the
war. It will also allow us to meet the objectives of the war while
enabling Hamas leadership in Gaza to exit safely to a secure location,”
an Israeli official told Kan.
More than 30 families of hostages are
expected to attend next week’s U.N. General Assembly to meet with
international officials and promote the release of their loved ones.
“We welcome the new Netanyahu proposal,
which strengthens security in Israel and allows for a comprehensive
regional arrangement. The prime minister must lead this proposal with
courage, determination and speed,” said Israel’s Hostages and
Missing Families Forum.
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