Al-Qassam Brigades receive a batch of Israeli detainees in Gaza during the recent exchange deal (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the mini-ministerial council will meet today, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss proposals related to a prisoner exchange deal, while the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) confirmed that the release of any detainees is contingent on ending the war in Gaza.
The mini-ministerial council meeting comes a day after a four-party meeting was held in Paris to discuss the features of a new exchange deal. Al-Jazeera’s correspondent said that the Israeli Prime Minister’s estimates indicate that the Paris discussions were constructive.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said earlier that the Paris talks, which were held with the participation of Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, ended with progress in the talks on the exchange of prisoners, and it quoted an Israeli political source as saying that the summit discussed the plan to release Israeli prisoners in stages.
The source added that the parties discussed a ceasefire for approximately two months, in exchange for the release of about 100 Israeli prisoners, with priority given to children, women, and the sick, with Israel releasing a large number of Palestinian prisoners.
On the other hand, Hamas said that the release of detainees is linked to ending the Israeli aggression against Gaza and the withdrawal of all occupation forces. Sami Abu Zuhri, head of Hamas’s political department abroad, told Reuters, “The success of the Paris meeting depends on the extent of the occupation’s response to stopping the comprehensive aggression against Gaza.”
Israel estimates that there are about 136 prisoners in Gaza, while it holds at least 8,800 Palestinians in its prisons.
Offer to Hamas
Yesterday, Sunday, the American Wall Street Journal, citing Egyptian officials, revealed a new offer to Hamas from the countries playing a mediating role, stipulating a 4-month ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of all Israeli prisoners.
The newspaper added that the new offer includes stopping Israeli attacks for 6 weeks as a first stage in order to release Israeli prisoners, including children, women and the elderly, who need urgent medical care, in exchange for Israel releasing a large number of Palestinian prisoners and increasing the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In its second phase, the offer also included Hamas releasing the captured Israeli female soldiers, then the captured soldiers, and handing over the bodies of the dead Israelis in Gaza to Tel Aviv.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the new offer also includes Hamas obtaining international guarantees, including from the United States of America, of the possibility of reaching a comprehensive agreement that would stop the attacks on Gaza once and for all.
The New York Times quoted American officials as saying that a prisoner exchange agreement could be concluded within the next two weeks.
With Qatari-Egyptian-American mediation, Hamas and Israel reached a temporary humanitarian truce that lasted for a week until December 1, during which prisoners were exchanged and limited humanitarian aid was brought into Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies