Israeli media reported that the Israeli negotiating delegation is still in Qatar, and that Netanyahu is moving within his government coalition to obtain the necessary support for the prisoner exchange deal.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted officials involved in the negotiations as saying that there are still gaps regarding the prisoner exchange deal between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel.
In turn, Channel 14 quoted an Israeli official that an exchange deal may be reached by the end of the current round of talks, but it will take two weeks or more, she said.
In the same context, Israel Today newspaper reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already made the necessary political calculations to obtain the necessary support for the prisoner exchange deal within the government.
She added that Netanyahu is aware of the limits of his ability to maneuver within the coalition, but he assumes that the opposition of religious Zionist ministers will not lead to their withdrawal from the government, while he finds it difficult to control National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The newspaper also reported that the negotiating team confirmed that implementing the deal in stages cannot be undone until the war ends, in exchange for the return of all prisoners detained in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian optimism
Three Palestinian factions considered that the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners was closer than ever if Israel did 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. year if the Israeli Prime Minister does not block it.
Hamas said – in a statement yesterday, 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 variables 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.”
No understandings on fundamental issues
On the other hand, Israeli media concluded that there was no serious breakthrough in the ongoing ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip that would lead to a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.
Israeli Channel 13 said that Israel has not received a list of the names of living prisoners detained in Gaza, noting that this is a condition for resuming negotiations, according to its claim.
In turn, Kan 11 quoted Israeli and foreign sources as saying that there is progress in the negotiations, but there are no understandings on the core issues.
Israeli news reports spoke of achieving “unprecedented progress” towards reaching an exchange deal, but they also pointed to gaps related to the number of Israeli prisoners who will be released, and the stages of implementing the potential agreement.
For his part, the political affairs correspondent for Channel 12 said that circumstances have changed from last May until this December, believing that a deal cannot currently be reached due to Hamas’ current conditions.
In this context, the Israeli Channel 12 revealed – according to its military correspondent – that the army informed the political level that it had completed its basic mission in the Gaza Strip, and could withdraw as part of a deal, while being prepared to return to fighting again.
According to the channel, the decision is currently dependent on the government, warning at the same time of the dangers of the army remaining in Gaza, as Israeli forces will become targets for Palestinian fighters.