Families of Israeli prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza are intensifying pressure on Netanyahu to conclude a deal leading to their release (Anatolia)

A leader in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) told Al Jazeera that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to buy time and absorb the anger of the families of the prisoners, but he is creating obstacles to reaching an agreement.

He added that the Israeli delegation does not have the authority to reach an agreement, stressing the movement’s position on the necessity of stopping the aggression, withdrawing the occupation forces, returning the displaced, and intensifying relief and reconstruction.

Sources told Al Jazeera that the Cairo meeting between the mediators and the Israeli delegation did not result in anything new in the path to reaching a ceasefire.

The sources indicated that the Israeli delegation once again put forward a proposal for the gradual return of a specific number of displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip to its north, as the proposal includes the return of no more than 60,000 displaced persons at a rate of 2,000 displaced persons per day two weeks after the start of the agreement.

She added that Israel insists that the displaced do not return to their homes and areas, but rather to tents that are built to shelter them.

“There is no talk of a new round of negotiations.”

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan confirmed in an interview with Al Jazeera yesterday, Sunday, that there is no talk yet about any new round of negotiations, after news of an Israeli delegation visiting Cairo yesterday, Sunday, to discuss the exchange deal.

He added that the occupation did not make any commitments in its responses, and its answers were an attempt to procrastinate with regard to the basic points that Hamas wants answers to, which are stopping the aggression, withdrawing from Gaza, the return of the displaced to the north, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Hamdan expressed his appreciation for the role of the Qatari and Egyptian mediators, noting that Israel's continued "intransigence" means that the mediators' efforts will face a dead end, as he put it.

He said that Israel only wants to recover its prisoners and continue the aggression in an open manner, stressing that the American position contributes to covering up Israeli "intransigence."

Yesterday, Sunday, Israeli Channel 12 reported that a delegation including representatives of Mossad, intelligence, and Shin Bet would leave for Cairo to discuss the exchange deal with Hamas.

Hamas said that the basic principles underlying its vision of the negotiation file, which it presented to the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, are based on five main points: a ceasefire, an unconditional return of the displaced, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from Gaza, the entry of aid and relief materials, and reconstruction.

Israel rejected Hamas's proposal, and also rejected the movement's request to release 30 life sentencers for every female soldier, and in return, it offered to release only 5 to be determined by it.

Israel presented a detailed proposal to release the detainees, calling for the release in the first stage of 40 alive Israeli detainees of all categories.

The last round of negotiations in Doha lasted for about two weeks to reach a deal between Hamas and Israel, without producing results despite Washington expressing its optimism about the talks. It was planned to complete the negotiations in Cairo this week.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies