The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar published what it said was the verbatim text of the response delivered by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Tuesday, February 6, 2024, to the Qatari and Egyptian mediators to the “framework agreement” that was presented to it after the Paris meeting, and indicated that the American and Israeli sides had received a copy of Hamas' response to the mediators.

On Tuesday evening, the Hamas movement announced that it had delivered the response, which came in 3 pages and included fundamental amendments to the “Paris Framework Agreement.” A source told “Arabi Post” that the movement “confirmed in its response that it looks positively at a proposal that leads to a comprehensive cessation of fire, and to completely lift the siege on the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas's response to the mediators, the details of which were published by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, divided the agreement into 3 stages, which also included a special annex of guarantees and demands aimed at stopping the aggression and eliminating its effects. It stated in its introduction that this agreement aims to stop mutual military operations between the parties.

In addition to achieving complete and sustainable calm, exchanging prisoners between the two parties, ending the siege on Gaza, reconstruction, the return of residents and displaced people to their homes, and providing shelter and relief requirements for all residents in all areas of the Gaza Strip.

The first stage lasts 45 days

According to what was stated in Hamas’ response to the mediators, this humanitarian phase aims to release all Israeli detainees, including women and children (under the age of 19, not conscripts), the elderly, and the sick, in exchange for a specific number of Palestinian prisoners.

It also seeks to intensify humanitarian aid, reposition forces outside populated areas, allow the start of reconstruction work on hospitals, homes and facilities in all areas of the Gaza Strip, and allow the United Nations and its agencies to provide humanitarian services and establish shelter camps for the population, according to the following:

- A temporary cessation of military operations, a cessation of aerial reconnaissance, and a repositioning of Israeli forces far outside the populated areas in the entire Gaza Strip, to be along the dividing line, in order to enable the parties to complete the exchange of detainees and prisoners.

- As it was stated in Hamas’ response to the mediators that the two parties are releasing Israeli detainees, women and children (under the age of 19, not conscripts), the elderly and the sick, in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners, provided that this is done in a way that ensures the release during this stage of all the listed persons. Their names are on the previously agreed upon lists.

- Intensifying the introduction of quantities necessary and sufficient to meet the needs of the population (to be determined) of humanitarian aid, fuel, and the like, on a daily basis, as well as allowing the arrival of appropriate quantities of humanitarian aid to all areas in the Gaza Strip, including the north of the Strip, and the return of the displaced to their places of residence in all areas. sector.

Hamas’ response to the mediators also stipulated the reconstruction of hospitals in all of the Strip, the introduction of what is necessary to establish population camps/tents to shelter residents, and the resumption of all humanitarian services provided to the population by the United Nations and its agencies.

- Starting (indirect) discussions regarding the requirements necessary to restore complete calm.

While Hamas's response to the mediators indicated that the annex attached to the details of the first phase is an integral part of this agreement, provided that the details of the second and third phases will be agreed upon during the implementation of the first phase.

Details of the attached appendix to “Hamas’ response to the mediators”:

- Complete cessation of military operations on both sides, and cessation of all forms of air activity, including reconnaissance, for the duration of this phase.

Hamas’ response to the mediators also stipulated the repositioning of Israeli forces far outside the populated areas in the entire Gaza Strip, to be along the dividing line to the east and north, in order to enable the parties to complete the exchange of detainees and prisoners.

The two parties will release Israeli detainees, including women and children (under the age of 19, not conscripts), the elderly, and the sick, in exchange for all prisoners in the occupation prisons, including women, children, the elderly (over 50 years of age), and the sick, who have been arrested until the date of signing this agreement, without exception. In addition to 1,500 Palestinian prisoners, Hamas nominates 500 of them with life sentences and high sentences.

- Completing the necessary legal procedures to ensure that Palestinian and Arab prisoners are not re-arrested on the same charge for which they were arrested.

- Mutual and simultaneous release takes place in a way that ensures the release during this stage of all persons whose names are included in the previously agreed upon lists, and names and lists are exchanged before implementation.

– Improving the conditions of prisoners in the occupation prisons and lifting the measures and penalties that were taken after 10/7/2023.

- Stopping the incursions and aggression of Israeli settlers against Al-Aqsa Mosque and returning conditions in Al-Aqsa Mosque to what they were before 2002.

- Intensifying the entry of quantities necessary and sufficient for the needs of the population (not less than 500 trucks) of humanitarian aid, fuel and the like, on a daily basis, as well as allowing the arrival of appropriate quantities of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip, especially the north of the Gaza Strip.

The return of the displaced to their places of residence in all areas of the Gaza Strip, and ensuring the freedom of movement of residents and citizens by all means of transportation and not impeding it in all areas of the Gaza Strip, especially from south to north.

– Ensuring the opening of all crossings with the Gaza Strip, the return of trade, and allowing the free movement of people and goods without obstacles.

- Lifting any Israeli restrictions on the movement of travelers, patients and wounded through the Rafah crossing, and ensuring that all wounded men, women and children can leave for treatment abroad without restrictions.

Egypt and Qatar will lead the efforts with all necessary parties to manage and supervise ensuring, achieving and completing the following issues:

1- Providing and introducing sufficient heavy equipment necessary to remove rubble and debris.

2- Providing civil defense equipment and the requirements of the Ministry of Health.

3- The process of rebuilding hospitals and bakeries in all of the sector and introducing what is necessary to establish population camps/tents to shelter the population.

4- Entering at least 60,000 temporary homes (caravans/containers), so that every week from the entry into force of this phase, 15,000 homes will enter the Gaza Strip, in addition to 200,000 shelter tents, at a rate of 50,000 tents each week to shelter those whose homes the occupation destroyed during the war.

5- Beginning the reconstruction and repair of infrastructure in all areas of the sector, and rehabilitating the electricity, communications and water networks.

6- Approving a plan for the reconstruction of homes, economic establishments, and public facilities that were destroyed due to the aggression, and scheduling the reconstruction process for a period not exceeding 3 years.

Resuming all humanitarian services provided to the population in all areas of the Gaza Strip, by the United Nations and its agencies, especially UNRWA, and all international organizations working to begin their work in all areas of the Gaza Strip as it was before 10/7/2023.

- Re-supplying the Gaza Strip with the necessary fuel to restart the power plant and all sectors. The occupation’s commitment to supply Gaza with its electricity and water needs.

- Initiating (indirect) discussions regarding the necessary requirements for continuing the cessation of mutual military operations in order to return to a state of complete and mutual calm.

The exchange process is closely linked to the extent to which commitment is achieved to enter adequate aid, relief and shelter that were mentioned and agreed upon.

The second stage lasts 45 days

According to what was stated in Hamas’ response to the mediators, during the second phase, the (indirect) discussions must be completed and announced regarding the necessary requirements for the continued cessation of mutual military operations and a return to a state of complete calm, before implementing the second phase.

This phase also aims to release all male detainees (civilians and conscripts), in exchange for specific numbers of Palestinian prisoners, the continuation of the humanitarian measures of the first phase, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces outside the borders of all areas of the Gaza Strip.

It also aims to begin comprehensive reconstruction work for the homes, facilities and infrastructure that were destroyed in all areas of the Gaza Strip, according to specific mechanisms that guarantee the implementation of this, and to end the siege on the Gaza Strip completely, in accordance with what will be agreed upon in the first phase.

The third stage lasts 45 days

This third phase aims to exchange the bodies and remains of the dead with both sides after arriving and identifying them, and to continue the humanitarian measures for the first and second phases, in accordance with what will be agreed upon in the first and second phases, according to what was stated in Hamas’ response to the mediators, the details of which were published by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar.