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Israeli media said that an Israeli delegation will head today, Monday, to the Qatari capital, Doha, to present Tel Aviv’s response to the proposal of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) regarding a deal to exchange prisoners and detainees and reach a truce in the Gaza Strip.

Reuters quoted an Israeli official as saying that a high-level delegation headed by the head of the Israeli intelligence service (Mossad) will head to Doha today.

The agency quoted the Israeli official, whose identity was not revealed, as saying that the Israeli delegation will present a proposal for a 6-week truce in Gaza, provided that Hamas releases 40 Israeli detainees.

The official estimated that this stage of the negotiations may take at least two weeks, noting that the negotiations may be beset by difficulties due to the war conditions.

For its part, Israeli Channel 12 explained that the Israeli delegation’s visit to Doha came 4 days after Tel Aviv received Hamas’ response through mediators, and quoted a source it described as informed, saying that the delegation had obtained authorization from the mini-ministerial council to conduct general negotiations.

She said that the visit comes after deliberations in both the Israeli War Council and the Mini-Ministerial Council for Security and Political Affairs (Cabinet) regarding a proposal submitted by Hamas.

Difficulties

The Israeli channel also quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying that the negotiation process will be long and complicated, and that “the negotiations are tending to be with the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar,” in reference to his role in decision-making regarding the war.

The Israeli official said, "The offer that Israel received from Hamas is not good, and both sides must be flexible."

He stressed that the mandate granted to the Israeli delegation enables it to conduct real negotiations, indicating that the Israeli negotiating team is determined to reach an agreement.

Indirect negotiations are taking place between Israel and Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian mediation, with the participation of the United States, in light of the continued Israeli aggression against Gaza since the seventh of last October.

The Hamas movement presented a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in three stages, each lasting 42 days.

Sources told Al Jazeera last Friday that Hamas stipulated the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Al-Rashid and Salah Al-Din Streets for the return of the displaced and the passage of aid.

It also offered, in exchange for the release of every living female prisoner, the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners, 30 of whom were serving life sentences.

The sources added to Al Jazeera that, with the start of the second phase, Hamas stipulated that a permanent ceasefire be declared before any exchange of its captured soldiers.

Hamas's proposal also included starting the comprehensive reconstruction process for the Gaza Strip and ending the siege with the start of the third phase of the deal.

Source: Al Jazeera + Anatolia + Reuters