Three Palestinian factions considered that the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners has become closer than ever before if Israel does not set new conditions, while a leader in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) indicated that the agreement could see the light before the end of the year if it does not set new conditions. It is blocked by the Israeli Prime Minister.
Hamas said – in a statement today, Saturday – that delegations from its leaders, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine discussed in Cairo yesterday the course of the Israeli war on Gaza, the developments of the indirect negotiations for the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, and all the changes at the regional level.
She also said that the delegations of the three Palestinian factions agreed that “the possibility of reaching an agreement is closer than ever if the enemy stops setting new conditions.”
Hamas added, “We agreed with the leaders of Jihad and the Popular Front to continue communicating and coordinating on all developments related to the Israeli aggression against our people and the ceasefire negotiations.”
She continued that she discussed with PIJ and the Popular Front the project of a community support committee to manage the Gaza Strip, and the importance of starting practical steps to form the committee and announce it as soon as possible.
“Unbroken stuck points”
In a related context, Agence France-Presse quoted a Hamas leader as saying, “The discussions have come a long and important way, and most of the points related to the issues of ceasefire and prisoner exchange have been agreed upon, and some outstanding points remain, but they are not disrupted.”
This leader added, on the condition that his name not be published, “The agreement could see the light before the end of this year if Netanyahu does not disrupt it with new conditions.”
He explained, “The agreement, if announced and implemented, will stipulate a gradual cessation of the war and a gradual military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, but the agreement ends with a serious deal to exchange prisoners, a permanent cessation of the war, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced, and a non-return to hostilities with the guarantees of international mediators and reconstruction.”
Israel: Conditions have improved
The day before yesterday, Netanyahu’s office informed the families of prisoners in the Gaza Strip that the conditions for concluding an exchange deal with the Palestinian factions had “improved” without reaching a final agreement.
According to the newspaper “Israel Today”, this is the first time that Netanyahu’s office has issued a statement talking about a “development” in the negotiations since the beginning of the war of extermination – which Israel is waging against stones, trees and Palestinian people – on October 7, 2023.
Last Tuesday, Egyptian media reported that Cairo and Doha were making intense efforts with all parties to reach a truce agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Israel holds more than 10,300 Palestinian prisoners in its prisons, and it is estimated that there are 100 Israeli prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, while Hamas announced that dozens of them were killed in random Israeli raids.
Hamas has repeatedly confirmed over the past months its readiness to conclude an agreement, and announced its approval last May of a proposal presented by US President Joe Biden.
However, Netanyahu backed down from Biden’s proposal, putting forward new conditions, most notably the continuation of the genocidal war and not withdrawing the army from Gaza. While Hamas adheres to a complete cessation of the war, a complete withdrawal of the occupation army, and a fair exchange deal.
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the army intends to take security control of the Gaza Strip and reserve the right to operate there after the war, as is the case in the occupied West Bank.
The opposition and the families of Israeli detainees accuse Netanyahu of obstructing an agreement, in order to preserve his position and government. Extremist ministers, including Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, threaten to withdraw from the government and topple it if an end to the war is accepted.
With American support, Israel has been committing – since October 7, 2023 – a genocide in Gaza that left nearly 153,000 Palestinians martyred and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that killed dozens of children and the elderly.
Israel continues its massacres in full view of the whole world, ignoring two arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on November 21, against Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinians in Gaza.
