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Still in the power of Hamas: Photos of Israeli hostages at a fence in Ramat Gan
Photo: Oded Balilty/dpa
According to media reports, in the difficult indirect negotiations over a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza war and an exchange of hostages for prisoners, Israel is said to be prepared to partially respond to the demands of the Islamist Hamas. The Jewish state would now release 700 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons if Hamas released 40 of around 100 Israeli hostages still alive, wrote the usually well-informed Israeli journalist Barak Ravid in the news portal "Walla" and on the platform X. Among those to be released Palestinians would be 100 prisoners sentenced to life sentences for terrorist crimes.
The negotiations, which have been dragging on for several months, are currently underway in the Qatari capital Doha with the mediation of the USA, Egypt and Qatar. They aim for an agreement in several phases.
CIA chief Burns reportedly changed Israel's mind
The first step would involve a six-week ceasefire and the release of 40 hostages held by Hamas. The original proposal, which Israel accepted, would have included the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners, including 25 with life sentences. This did not go far enough for Hamas. The new formula was proposed by Qatar and initially rejected by Israel. Ravid wrote that Israel had changed its mind in recent days at the urging of CIA chief William Burns, who had come to Doha especially.
According to this report, Israel also signaled a partial concession to another Hamas demand. After nearly two million people from the northern Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, fled the war to the central and southern parts of the country, Hamas is demanding that they be allowed to return.
Israel, whose military controls the corridor that separates the north from the rest of the territory, opposes this because it fears it could encourage Hamas's return to power in areas the military has captured. On this point, the report says, Israeli negotiators have shown flexibility. Accordingly, Israel would be prepared to allow the return of 2,000 internally displaced people per day - although not a particularly large number.
Hamas response expected soon
Hamas' response is expected in the next two days, the report said. However, other demands from Hamas could pose greater hurdles. The Islamists insist on a guarantee that at the end of the implementation of the deal - under which the remaining Israeli hostages and hundreds more Palestinian prisoners would be released - Israel will end the war in Gaza. Given the current situation, the Jewish state definitely wants to reserve the option of continuing the war and maintaining a longer military presence in Gaza.
jpa/dpa