Israel and Hamas are close to a deal that would see a Palestinian prisoner exchange for most of the Israeli women and children held hostage in Gaza — as well as the promise of a five-day ceasefire in the conflict.
The deal could be announced within days after final details are worked out, a senior Israeli official told Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.
“The general outline of the agreement is understood,” added the official, who did not want to be named.
Although Israel has requested the release of all 100 women and children currently held hostage, the number may be much smaller.
Hamas officials have said they are ready to release 70 women and children, according to a statement from a Hamas spokesman.
Leaders of the terrorist organization said on Monday they had told Qatari mediators that they were prepared to release up to 70 women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day ceasefire with Israel, stipulating that a short truce would have to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. .
Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal that would see a Palestinian prisoner exchange for most of the Israeli women and children held hostage in Gaza.AFP via Getty Images
“Last week there was an effort by the Qatari brothers to release enemy prisoners of women and children, in return for the release of 200 Palestinian children and 75 women held by the enemy,” Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigade, said in an audio recording posted on the group’s Telegram channel.
Ubaida argued Israel was “delaying and avoiding” the cost of the prisoner exchange.
Follow The Post’s coverage of Israel’s war with Hamas
“The ceasefire should include a complete ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid and assistance everywhere in the Gaza Strip,” he added.
Hamas took about 240 hostages during the gruesome October 7 surprise attack on Israel, in which it killed more than 1,200 people, mainly civilians and young people enjoying an outdoor music festival.
The potential deal includes a five-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. AFP via Getty Images
As a result, Israel declared war and has relentlessly bombed Gaza ever since, killing at least 11,000 people and displacing more than 1.6 million people.
The number of Palestinian prisoners to be released remains unclear, although at least 120 are currently imprisoned, according to an Arab official who spoke to WaPo.
The Israel-Hamas War: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip more than three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in 50 years, in an early morning ambush on Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and sending dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
The terrorists killed over 1,200 Israelis, injured over 4,200, and took at least 200 hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly announced, “We are at war,” and promised Hamas would pay “an unprecedented price.”
Gaza’s Ministry of Health – which is controlled by Hamas – reports at least 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,500 injured since the war began.
Israel wants confirmation that the hostages in Gaza are freed as it exchanges prisoners.
The verification process was one of the details still being negotiated on Monday.
Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida said the leaders were discussing a potential deal with Qatar on Monday. Telegram
The Israeli official stressed that the leaders are committed to freeing all Israelis currently detained, who they believe include about 90 male civilians and a small number of soldiers.
“We want as many as possible, as quickly as possible, and no one is left behind,” he said.
Hamas has insisted to Qatar that it only captured Israeli troops, a claim that Israeli officials have dismissed as false.
Although Hamas holds the “vast majority” of prisoners, some are held by other groups, although Hamas has the power to negotiate for the release of all of them.
Israel has requested the release of all 100 women and children currently detained, but the number is likely to be much smaller. AFP via Getty Images
A smaller group called Palestinian Islamic Jihad held about 35 hostages, and a militia known as the “shabiha,” as well as other smaller groups, held several dozen others, the Israeli official said.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “there may be” a potential deal to free some of the hostages.
When asked about a potential deal on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Netanyahu said, “Maybe there is, but I think the less I see it, the more I increase the chances of it happening.”
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
