The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that there is no deal on the horizon, while media outlets reported that the White House is considering a unilateral deal to release American prisoners in Gaza.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted its sources as saying that there is no deal on the horizon, and that the possibility of reaching a prisoner exchange deal is very slim.
The Authority explained that there is no deal on the horizon, because each side sees the other as unwilling to reach an agreement, noting that Tel Aviv did not do its utmost to avoid missing the opportunity to reach an agreement.
The Authority said that Washington and the mediators are trying to find a suitable formula for the settlement proposal, but the conviction is growing in the administration of US President Joe Biden that neither the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) nor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to conclude a prisoner exchange deal, according to the Broadcasting Authority.
She added that Hamas is demanding the release of the same number of prisoners despite the decrease in the number of living Israeli prisoners.
For its part, Israeli Channel 12 quoted officials as saying that after the security talks with Netanyahu ended, “it became clear to us that the possibility of concluding a deal (for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange) is slim.”
Reuters also quoted a senior US official as saying that there was a “frustrating” negotiation process with Hamas regarding a prisoner-for-prisoner deal and a ceasefire.
For its part, the New York Times said that officials familiar with the negotiations expressed concern that Netanyahu’s new demands would further delay or even undermine the deal.
The New York Times also quoted American officials as saying that Hamas had added new demands in recent days for the release of prisoners.
According to the newspaper, Hamas demanded the release of more prisoners in the first phase of the agreement.
The New York Times also quoted a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that pressure is being put on both sides to adhere to the agreement and make difficult decisions.
Speaking to the New York Times, US officials also praised Qatar’s management of the ceasefire negotiations.
unilateral deal
The Telegraph newspaper quoted an Israeli official as saying that Washington has already begun considering a unilateral deal to release American prisoners.
Two days ago, the American NBC network quoted informed sources as saying that the Biden administration is considering a request from the families of American detainees in Gaza to conclude an agreement with Hamas that does not include Israel.
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said that Tel Aviv will respond forcefully to the killing of the six Israeli prisoners, adding that no one in the world is interested in achieving a swap deal like Israel, he said.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who is visiting Tel Aviv, said that military pressure poses a threat to the lives of Israeli prisoners and cannot alone guarantee their release.
Baerbock added that the deal with Hamas would involve paying a heavy price, but the lives of the prisoners were worth it.
Since the bodies of the six prisoners were found, there has been a sharp rise in criticism in Israel, holding Netanyahu responsible for their deaths and demanding that he quickly conclude an agreement to exchange the remaining prisoners.
Israel holds at least 9,500 Palestinian prisoners in its prisons, and estimates that there are 101 prisoners in Gaza, while Hamas announced the killing of dozens of prisoners in random Israeli raids.
Security officials, the opposition and prisoners’ families have accused Netanyahu for months of obstructing a deal with Hamas, fearing the collapse of his ruling coalition and the loss of his position.
Source : The Island + American press + Israeli press
