What’s happening:
An Israeli official has denied reports from a Hamas source that a ceasefire in Gaza, scheduled to begin on Monday, is part of a deal to release Israeli hostages. Despite this, there appears to be progress in the Qatari-mediated negotiations with Hamas signaling a potential willingness to engage in a significant exchange.
Why it matters:
The possibility of a truce and the release of hostages is a critical development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The negotiations could potentially lead to a pause in hostilities and the return of captives, which would be a significant humanitarian and political achievement.
Details of the report:
Hamas is said to have agreed to release a group of 50 captives in the first stage of the deal, in exchange for a four-to-five-day pause in fighting, the release of about 150 Palestinian children and women from Israeli prisons, and the entry of fuel into Gaza. However, Hamas has stated that it needs time to locate all the kidnapped individuals during the truce.
Israel’s stance:
Israeli negotiators have indicated that if an additional 20-25 hostages are released, it could lead to the release of all families involved. Israel is also determined to ensure that any pause in fighting does not undermine its security interests, with a political source emphasizing the importance of making Hamas value the peace provided to facilitate the release of as many captives as possible.
Next steps:
Israel will convey its response to Qatar, which will then continue discussions with Hamas to finalize the terms. Israeli officials believe that the approval process by the war Cabinet and the government, which has the final say on prisoner releases, could be completed within 72 hours.
Additional context:
The IDF has recently presented evidence suggesting that Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza was used as a base for terrorism, where hostages were taken on October 7. This revelation underscores the complexity of the conflict and the use of civilian infrastructure by militant groups.
This story was first published on ynetnews.