12/23/2023–|Last updated: 12/23/202303:52 AM (Mecca time)
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said on Friday that Yahya Sinwar, head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza, has an “organized plan” to end the ongoing war on the Strip since last October 7.
The commission explained – quoting an informed source, which it did not specify – that the plan “includes the withdrawal of Israeli army forces as part of a long ceasefire agreement, and the retention of a portion of the Israeli prisoners, as a bargaining chip for the future.”
According to the Commission, the source claimed that “Al-Sinwar is working on the assumption that the first truce did not produce satisfactory results in favor of Hamas, and therefore he insists on an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied neighborhoods of Gaza and a long ceasefire.”
The source pointed out that Sinwar’s demands, within the framework of the aforementioned plan, “are much more than what Israel is offering to Hamas.”
He added, “Sinwar believes that the withdrawal of the Israeli army’s ground forces from the cities in the north and south of the Gaza Strip will achieve a partial restoration of its ability to command and control the areas already occupied by Israel.”
The source continued, “The Israelis interpret reality in the opposite way, but Sinwar is not detached from reality.”
Regarding the Israeli detainees held by Hamas, the source said, “The movement intends to keep a large portion of the prisoners as a bargaining chip in the coming stages as well, in anticipation of Israel’s return to ground maneuvers after another possible ceasefire.”
According to the source, the countries mediating negotiations with Hamas believe that the war is “approaching its final stages,” and yet the movement is “also preparing for the possibility of the war continuing for a long period.”
During the past few days, official and private Israeli media spoke about a possible truce agreement that may be concluded soon between Israel and Hamas, which includes the release of prisoners from both sides under Qatari-Egyptian sponsorship.
Improve display
Israeli officials said Thursday that Tel Aviv is “considering improving the offer presented to Hamas regarding a possible temporary truce between the two parties, to include a ceasefire for more than two weeks, in order to persuade it to release more hostages it is holding,” according to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
These reports come at a time when Hamas stresses its rejection of any negotiations to exchange prisoners without a complete ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts, on more than one occasion, that the war on Gaza “will not stop before achieving its goals.”
