While Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip have been continuing for 437 days, the Israeli press reported, based on an unnamed senior Israeli official, that a delegation including officials from the Israeli foreign intelligence service MOSSAD and the Israeli Internal Intelligence Agency Shin Bet had arrived for ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip. It was claimed that he went to Doha, the capital of Qatar.
THEY WILL COME TOGETHER WITH MEDIATORS
It was stated in the news that the delegation also included representatives from the Israeli army, and that the delegation would meet with mediators.
The unnamed official stated that the visit meant that significant progress had been made in the ceasefire talks. Israel has not yet made an official statement about the visit.
POWER EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
On the other hand, Israeli media claimed that the Tel Aviv administration wanted to make a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas “before the end of this month.” In the report of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, based on senior Israeli officials, it was stated that an agreement with Hamas for Israeli prisoners held in Gaza could be “soon”.
The news claimed that Israel aims to reach a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas before the end of December and said, “All the details of the agreement are clear. The basis of the disagreement is about the number of prisoners who will be released in the first phase of the agreement.” It was said.
The news claimed that the disagreement on the number of captives to be released with the agreement was “big” and noted that Hamas was willing to release a small number of captives, while Israel demanded twice the number in question.
The news reported that prisoner swap negotiations are currently being conducted on the number of captives to be released. There was no statement from Hamas on the issue.
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KATZ ANNOUNCED
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz made statements about the agenda, especially the prisoner exchange, at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Claiming that they are “at a close point” for a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, Katz said, “In my opinion, we are at the point where we are closest to a hostage agreement since the previous agreement (the prisoner exchange in November 2023).” He used the expression.
A mutual prisoner exchange was made between Hamas and Israel in November 2023 and a temporary ceasefire was reached in the Gaza Strip. Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza after a ceasefire that lasted about a week. It is stated that Hamas holds approximately 100 Israeli prisoners. (IHA-AA)