Effects of the destruction of the Israeli bombardment on Gaza (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera has learned from sources close to the prisoner exchange negotiations between Israel and Hamas that the latter has told the mediators that it is not ready to discuss any humanitarian or comprehensive deal without a ceasefire.
The sources also confirmed that the current visit of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh to Cairo does not fall within the framework of prisoner negotiations, but rather within the framework of seeking to lift the siege on Gaza and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, especially since Ghazi Hamad, who is in charge of the crossings in the Gaza Strip, is part of the delegation.
This comes after CIA Director William Burns traveled to the Polish capital Warsaw on Monday to meet with Mossad Director David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to US and Egyptian officials.
A U.S. official said the meetings were an attempt to restart discussions about the prisoners.
Israeli President Chaim Herzog confirmed yesterday that the head of the Mossad was sent twice to Europe to reactivate the humanitarian truce to free the prisoners. Israel's Channel 12 also reported that important, serious and in-depth talks were taking place on the details of the hostage deal, but an agreement was not imminent, while Israel's Channel 13 quoted an informed official as saying that the costs of the new deal were likely to be high for Israel.
On the other hand, the Reuters news agency quoted the US White House as saying that discussions on a humanitarian truce and the release of hostages are very serious, and that humanitarian aid can now enter the Gaza Strip from Jordan.
Source: Al Jazeera + Reuters