Israeli media outlets report that Tel Aviv is determined to make every effort to ensure successful negotiations for the release of prisoners held in Gaza, while Palestinian factions emphasize the priority of a complete cessation of hostilities before discussing swap deals with Israel.
The Israeli Channel 12, citing special sources, reported that the Israeli government is intent on exerting every effort to facilitate successful negotiations for the release of prisoners held by Palestinian resistance. It recognizes the challenges that lie ahead.
According to Channel 13, the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a deal that includes the release of 30 to 40 Israeli detainees by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in exchange for prominent prisoners, a partial withdrawal from certain areas, and a ceasefire lasting from two weeks to a month.
Officials pointed out that if the deal goes through to the next phase, Israel may adjust some of the military arrangements within Gaza.
Israeli media revealed on Wednesday that Tel Aviv is prepared to include prominent detainees in the upcoming exchange deal, without mentioning any names. Axios reported, citing Israeli officials, that they have presented a new exchange deal proposal and expect a response from Qatari mediators within a few days.
The White House confirmed that the talks regarding a new truce in Gaza are very serious, emphasizing that Washington is pressing for the release of Israeli detainees.
Hamas announced through its Telegram account on Thursday that Palestinian factions have made a national decision that there will be no discussions about prisoners nor exchange deals with Israel until a complete halt to the war on the Gaza Strip is achieved.
According to Israeli statistics, Hamas captured approximately 240 people during its attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year, and swapped dozens of them during a 7-day humanitarian truce that lasted until December 1. Israel, for its part, holds 7,800 Palestinians in its prisons, including children and women.
Since October 7 last year, the Israeli occupation forces have waged a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which had left 20,000 Palestinian martyrs and 52,600 injured, most of them children and women, by Wednesday. The conflict has also caused immense destruction to infrastructure and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, according to the authorities in the sector and the United Nations.
In efforts to ease tensions, the French Press Agency quoted a source close to Hamas that Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau, continues discussions in Cairo regarding a "temporary truce," and a source within Islamic Jihad Movement said its general secretary Ziyad al-Nakhala will also head to Cairo at the beginning of next week.
