Israel and Hamas Reach Tentative Agreement on Prisoner Exchange in Ongoing Diplomatic Dialogue
The ongoing diplomatic efforts between Israel and Hamas have led to a potential breakthrough as Israel has reportedly agreed to a US-brokered proposal regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages held by Hamas. This information was shared by Israeli analyst Barak Ravid on Saturday, citing a senior Israeli official who chose to remain anonymous.
The proposal came from CIA Director Bill Burns, who is currently in Doha, Qatar, where the negotiations are taking place with the mediation of various international parties. The Israeli and Hamas delegations are now waiting for a response from Hamas regarding this agreement.
A diplomatic source familiar with the matter confirmed to News Finder that the information shared by Ravid is accurate, but there are still several issues that need resolution. These include the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and Israeli military repositioning within the territory.
News Finder has reached out to both Israeli officials and Hamas for comments on the status of these negotiations.
The latest demand from Hamas this month was for the release of around 700 to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel had initially described these demands as “ridiculous” and “absurd.” However, according to reports, an agreement, if it materializes, is expected to take place in multiple phases.
In the initial stage of this potential agreement, Hamas has proposed releasing hostages who fall under specific categories – including women, elderly individuals, sick or wounded prisoners. It is estimated that around 40 such hostages remain alive out of the approximately 100 who are still detained.
Mossad Director David Barnea and a high-ranking Israeli security delegation visited Doha twice this week to engage in talks on this matter. The details of these discussions remain undisclosed at present. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.