“Hamas proposes three-stage ceasefire over 135 days, leading to end of war…”

Hamas has proposed a ceasefire plan that would quiet the guns in Gaza for four-and-a-half months leading to an end to the war, in response to a proposal sent last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators and backed by the United States and Israel.

According to a draft document seen by Reuters, the Hamas counterproposal envisions three phases lasting 45 days each.

The proposal would see militants exchange remaining Israeli hostages they captured on Oct. 7 for Palestinian prisoners. The reconstruction of Gaza would begin, Israeli forces would withdraw completely, and bodies and remains would be exchanged.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived overnight in Israel after meeting the leaders of mediators Qatar and Egypt in the most serious diplomatic push of the war so far aimed at reaching an extended truce. Details of Hamas’s counteroffer have not previously been reported.

According to the Hamas counterproposal, all Israeli women hostages, males under 19, the elderly and sick would be released during the first 45-day phase in exchange for the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails.

Remaining male hostages would be released during the second phase, and remains exchanged in the third phase. By the end of the third phase, Hamas would expect the sides to have reached agreement on an end to the war.

The group, which governs Gaza, said in an addendum to the proposal that it wished for the release of 1500 prisoners, a third of whom it wanted to select from a list of Palestinians handed life sentences by Israel.

The truce would also increase the flow of food and other aid to Gaza’s desperate civilians who are facing hunger and dire shortages of basic supplies.

Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after militants from Hamas-ruled Gaza killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 27,585 Palestinians have been confirmed killed in Israel’s military campaign, with thousands more feared buried under rubble.

Malta:

Ministry For Finance and Employment – Annual Borrowing Plan for the year 2024

Maximum amount of issuance

The Treasury announces that the central government borrowing requirements for the financial year 2024 has been set to not exceed €1.7 billion. This amount will be raised through the issuance of Malta Government Stocks with maturity of more than one year.

Purpose of issuance

It is planned that the funds raised from the borrowing programme shall be applied mainly to finance the Central Government borrowing requirements for 2024 including:

• the redemption of four (4) Malta Government Stocks (MGS) issues and the 62+ Malta Government Savings Bond – Issue 2019 amounting in total to € 489,031,263 which are due to mature as follows:

• the financing of Central Government deficit estimated at €992.1 million;

• equity acquisitions of €215 million; and

• effecting changes in the Central Government debt portfolio, as and when required, in line with the Government’s debt management policies.

Types of securities to be issued 

It is planned that the conventional fixed rate Malta Government Stock shall be the Treasury’s primary financial instrument by which to fund the central government borrowing requirements during the year 2024.

Frequency of issuance

The Treasury intends to fund the financing requirements for 2024 over five (5) to six (6) MGS issues. As part of its issuance strategy, the Treasury shall retain the flexibility and capability to adapt quickly to changing market and other conditions and, where necessary, will review the intervals of issuances.

Maturity and terms of issuance of Malta Government Stocks 

The maturity structure of the 2024 MGS issues will be a mix of short and medium to long term MGS. The exact maturity and other details of the offer will be announced from one (1) to two (2) weeks prior to the opening of each issuance.

The relevant terms and conditions of an MGS issue will be published by means of an Offering Circular published in the Government Gazette prior to the actual date of each issue.

Malta Company Announcements:

Malta International Airport plc

Malta International Airport plc would like to announce that the Board of Directors of the Company will meet on Wednesday, 28th February, 2024 to consider and approve the company’s financial statements for the year ended on 31st December 2023.

During the same meeting, the Board of Directors will also consider whether to declare the payment of a dividend to the Company’s shareholders.

BORTEX Group Finance plc

The Company announces that the Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 29th February, 2024 in order to consider the Consolidated Annual Financial Statements of Bortex Group Holdings Company Limited (the “Guarantor”) and to approve the audited Financial Statements of Bortex Group Finance plc (the “Issuer”) for the year ending 31st October, 2023.

APS Bank plc

The Board of Directors of APS Bank plc is scheduled to meet on Thursday 7 March 2024 to:

– Consider and approve the Group’s and the Bank’s audited financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2023; and

– Consider the declaration of a dividend, if any, to be recommended to the Annual General Meeting, subject to the due regulatory approvals that may be required.

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