An Israeli official and another familiar with prisoner exchange negotiations between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that a tripartite meeting in Paris led to the resumption of talks within days.
The Axios news website quoted an Israeli official as saying that Mossad Director David Barnea returned to Israel after his meeting in Paris with CIA Director William Burns and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.
The Israeli official said that the three officials discussed in Paris a formula to allow the resumption of prisoner exchange negotiations.
He added that it was decided to resume negotiations next week on the basis of new proposals led by Egyptian and Qatari mediators and with the active participation of the United States.
Axios also quoted an American source as saying that the new tripartite meeting in Paris discussed the possibility of resuming negotiations without setting a date for holding a new round, indicating that progress has been made in this regard.
According to the same source, the administration of US President Joe Biden was surprised by Israel’s announcement regarding the resumption of prisoner negotiations.
For its part, Reuters quoted an official it described as informed that negotiations are scheduled to resume within days, noting that after the Paris meeting between the director of the CIA, the Qatari prime minister, and the head of the Israeli Mossad, it was decided that negotiations would begin based on new proposals led by mediators Egypt and Qatar. With active American participation.
The negotiations had reached an advanced stage before Israel began an attack on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 6. At that time, the broad outlines of an exchange agreement were reached, which was supposed to be implemented in 3 stages.
New proposals
In this context, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted an Israeli official as saying that the head of the Mossad presented to the director of the CIA and the Qatari prime minister a new proposal formulated by the Israeli negotiating team.
The Israeli body said that the new offer includes possible solutions to points that were a matter of disagreement in previous discussions, noting that another meeting is expected to be held next week, in which the Egyptian representative will join.
She added that the entire Israeli security leadership and members of the war council, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, support pushing for a deal that includes the exchange of prisoners, and say that it is necessary at the present time.
In this context, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted sources as saying that the discussions in Paris were very successful, during which it was agreed to move the exchange negotiations forward.
On Thursday, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office as saying that the war council had directed the negotiating team to continue negotiations for the return of detainees in Gaza.
Also Thursday, press leaks reported that Israel presented a new proposal that includes major concessions in order to reach a deal with Hamas that includes a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire.
Paris talks
As part of the efforts aimed at stopping the war on Gaza, members of the committee assigned by the Arab-Islamic Summit met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that members of the committee assigned by the Arab Islamic Summit discussed with Macron the dangerous developments in Gaza as a result of the continuing Israeli aggression, and the need to intensify international efforts aimed at an immediate and complete ceasefire in Gaza.
For his part, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter) that he discussed with Macron the necessary means to find a solution to the worsening humanitarian conditions and a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani affirmed support for all fair international efforts aimed at this.
As for Macron, he renewed his position on the necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of detainees in Gaza, the delivery of aid to the residents of the Strip, and the two-state solution, stressing that there is no alternative to permanent peace.
Demonstration by the families of the prisoners
Meanwhile, the families of the Israeli prisoners detained in Gaza called for a new demonstration this evening to demand an urgent deal to rescue them.
Yesterday, the families of the Israeli detainees said in a statement that the sad return of the bodies of the three prisoners who were found in Gaza represents another heartbreak for the families of the 125 still detained in the Strip.
The statement added that the recovery of the three bodies is a silent reminder that Israel is obligated to send a team to negotiate the return of the detainees.
Israel estimates the number of prisoners detained in Gaza at about 130, but it is likely that a number of them died, while the Hamas movement confirmed that dozens of prisoners were killed as a result of the captive bombing, and stressed that time is running out for the rest.
