By Abby Sewell Wafaa Shurafa
Deir al-Balah, Gaza: New details of the Gaza ceasefire proposal have emerged, including a possible buffer zone and a major increase in humanitarian aid, as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met in Qatar ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 White House visit on Monday.
鈥淭here are 20 hostages that are alive, 30 dead. I am determined, we are determined, to bring them all back. And we will also be determined to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,鈥 Netanyahu said before departing, emphasising the goal of eliminating Hamas鈥 military and governing power.
A person familiar with the negotiations shared with the Associated Press a copy of the latest ceasefire proposal submitted by mediators to Hamas, and its veracity was confirmed by two other people familiar with the document. All three spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the sensitive talks with the media.
The document outlines plans for a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would hand over 10 living and 18 dead hostages, Israeli forces would withdraw to a buffer zone along Gaza鈥檚 borders with Israel and Egypt, and significant amounts of aid would be brought in.