Israeli media concluded that there has been no serious breakthrough in the ongoing ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip that would lead to a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (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.
However, Hamas believed – in its latest comment on the negotiations – that reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and an exchange of prisoners is possible “if the occupation stops setting new conditions.”
Hamas has repeatedly stressed that any prisoner exchange agreement must lead to the cessation of the aggression against the Gaza Strip, the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces from it, the return of the displaced to their areas, and the start of reconstruction.
At the Israeli official level, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir believes that Israel is rushing to an “irresponsible deal,” while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the proposed deal does not serve Israel’s interests, ruling out stopping the war before overthrowing Hamas’ rule in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Channel 12 had quoted sources as saying, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu monopolizes information and does not inform anyone of the details of the negotiations except a very narrow circle.”
For his part, the military affairs analyst on the Israeli Channel 13, Alon Ben David, expressed his conviction that negotiations can only be talked about “when the heads of the Israeli security services and the head of Egyptian intelligence arrive in Qatar and meet its prime minister.”
According to Ben David, in this case Hamas could be involved, “so there is no imminent deal.”
In this context, Nimrod Sheffer, former head of the Planning Division in the Israeli army, stressed that the correct deal lies in ending the war and returning the prisoners as soon as possible or all those who can be returned, holding the Netanyahu government responsible if this does not happen.
The position of the occupying army
In turn, Israeli Channel 12 revealed – based on 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.
In a related context, the military affairs analyst for the Israeli Channel 13 said – on a tour inside the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip – that the rubble of destruction is everywhere, indicating that the return of residents to Jabalia will not be quick, and pointing out that reconstruction will take years.
He said that northern Gaza does not exist, “it has been completely wiped out and returning there is not possible,” wondering about the army’s next goal with the completion of the destruction of Jabalia by the end of this month.
On October 6, the occupation army announced the start of a new military operation in the northern Gaza Strip under the pretext of “preventing Hamas and the resistance factions from regaining their power in the region.”
