The Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted Israeli officials as saying that “significant progress and a positive atmosphere” had been achieved in the Gaza ceasefire talks and prisoner exchange, and the officials confirmed the possibility of reaching an agreement “within a month.”
CNN also quoted an American official as saying, “We believe that the exchange deal is closer than before, but there are existing points of disagreement between Israel” and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
For his part, a US State Department spokesman said, “We have reached a point where we should be able to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” adding, “The differences regarding the ceasefire agreement have been narrowed, and we must overcome what remains of them.”
The American news site Axios, for its part, reported that CIA Director William Burns is scheduled to visit Doha today, Wednesday, to discuss negotiations with the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.
Axios quoted an American official as saying that White House Middle East Affairs Advisor Brett McGurk arrived in Doha and is participating in talks with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials.
Hamas position
On the other hand, Hamas said yesterday, Tuesday – in a statement published on its official website on Telegram – that it confirms that “in light of the serious and positive discussions that Doha is witnessing today under the auspices of the mediator brothers (in the two countries), Qatar and Egypt, reaching an agreement on a ceasefire and the exchange of prisoners is possible.” If the occupation stops setting new conditions.”
Hamas has repeatedly stressed that any prisoner exchange agreement must lead to an end to the aggression on the Gaza Strip and the return of the displaced to their areas. It has previously accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of procrastination and setting new conditions to thwart efforts to reach an agreement.
In recent days, Israeli officials spoke of progress in the swap deal negotiations, and a spokesman for Netanyahu indicated the possibility of reaching an agreement before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
Trump held a phone conversation with Netanyahu on Monday evening, during which they discussed stopping the war on Gaza and restoring Israeli prisoners.
Trump described the conversation as “very good,” while a spokesman for Netanyahu said that the US president-elect told the Israeli prime minister that he wanted to see the war come to an end.
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.