Al-Qassam Brigades captured about 250 Israelis, including high-ranking soldiers, during the battle of Toufan Al-Aqsa (social media)

Israel's Channel 12 said the war council on Thursday discussed a Qatari proposal for a prisoner exchange between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel, while the movement's leader, Osama Hamdan, denied Israeli media reports that there were negotiations for the release of prisoners.

According to the proposal, 40 to 50 Israeli prisoners would be released in exchange for a month-long ceasefire.

The channel said there was a second phase that appeared to be more complex and details of which had not yet been revealed, but it was estimated to include a call for a settlement of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

The channel reported that Hamas and Israel have not yet responded to the proposal, but the situation looks better than before.

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan denied Israeli media reports that negotiations for the release of prisoners were denied (Al Jazeera)

Exile from Hamas

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan denied Israeli media reports that negotiations for the release of prisoners were discussed.

Hamdan said in statements to Al Jazeera that a complete and final ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is required before delving into any proposal regarding prisoners.

He stressed that Israel is suffering from street pressure, adding that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "which is on the verge of collapse, deliberately publishes incorrect leaks regarding the prisoner release deal in order to vent the congested street."

A temporary truce began on November 24 and lasted 7 days between Hamas and the Israeli occupation with the mediation of the State of Qatar and Egyptian-American coordination, during which 80 Israelis were released against 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has stressed several times that there will be no prisoner exchange deals with the occupation until after a comprehensive cessation of the war on the Gaza Strip.

Since October 7, Israel has waged a war on Gaza, which has left 21,507 dead, in addition to 55,915 injured - the majority of them children and women - in addition to massive destruction of residential neighborhoods, infrastructure and hospitals.

Source : Al Jazeera + Israeli Press