The Israeli government and the Hamas terrorist group could reach a truce agreement in the Gaza Strip “in one or two weeks,” according to sources close to the negotiations consulted, who added that “circumstances already allow it.”
The statements come after Hamas on Sunday handed Egypt a list of possible names of hostages and also of Palestinian terrorist prisoners to be exchanged in the first phase of the truce agreement, according to a source close to the talks.
The hostages include women, children, the critically ill and wounded, as well as four other hostages with dual Israeli-American citizenship.
The same source said that “Technical committees of Hamas, Egypt and Israel began their work on the details of implementing the prisoner exchange.”
"Cairo will provide the list of those detained and discuss withdrawal points for two days upon the arrival of the Israeli delegation," he added.
Israeli media have reported that Israel plans to send its delegation to Cairo in the coming days to continue discussing the truce agreement.
On Tuesday, the delegation of the terrorist group headed by Khalil Al Hayya held a new meeting with the Egyptian intelligence chief, Hasan Rashad, in Cairo, where he again stressed the "efforts of Hamas" to count the hostages who are still alive.
They also stressed that not all the hostages are in their hands and that some of them are under the control of Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front.
"If Israel accepts the Egyptian proposal (of exchange) I think the agreement will be ready to be implemented," said this source. Inside the enclave there are still 96 hostages kidnapped in the attacks of October 7 in Israeli territory, but according to the Israeli army 34 of them are dead.
According to the text of the Egyptian proposal, "one week after the ceasefire, the detainees will be released and the troops will withdraw from the agreed areas," including the Rafah crossing and the strategic Philadelphia corridor, the dividing line between Egypt and Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Monday that at this point, 14 months after the start of the war in Gaza, there is a “greater chance” than ever of reaching an agreement with Hamas.
In more than a year of war, Hamas and Israel have only reached one agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in November last year. At that time, 105 of the 251 people kidnapped by the terrorist organisation on 7 October and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.
Exchanging hostages for shit in large quantities and then attacking again, under any pretext you like.
Tell Egypt that if they bring weapons through Philadelphia we will kick their asses.
Blackmail and blackmail, they are going to negotiate with about 10 terrorists, they should go for them and that's the end of the story. No more blackmail.
I hope Hamas releases the hostages, wherever they are.
May Hashem give the necessary wisdom to all involved.