Hamas delegation on 'hostage swap' journey

A Palestinian official, who requested anonymity, stated that the hostage swap proposal presented to Hamas includes a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip lasting more than a month and a prisoner exchange to be carried out in three phases.

Pointing out that the first phase covers the release of approximately 30 Israelis held in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian official noted that the second phase involves Israeli female and male soldiers.

Emphasizing that the third phase includes the handover of the bodies of Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip under Israeli military attacks, the official explained that while there is no clear number yet regarding Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, between 100 and 200 Palestinians could be released for every Israeli hostage.

According to the proposal, the official stated that the number of Palestinians to be released in the second phase would be higher than in the first, noting that this is because the second phase would involve a swap for Israeli soldiers.

Drawing attention to the fact that the final number of Palestinians to be released in the swap could be determined during the talks in Cairo, the official noted that Hamas will convey its response to the proposal to Egypt at the end of the negotiations, which are expected to be completed by the weekend.

Regarding a complete cessation of the war in Gaza and a comprehensive ceasefire, the Palestinian official stated that this is at the top of the agenda for the Cairo negotiations and that the key to reaching an agreement could be the "withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza."

THEY HAD ANNOUNCED RECEIVING AN INVITATION FOR A CAIRO VISIT

Stating that a Hamas delegation would travel to Cairo to discuss the hostage swap proposal with Egyptian officials, the official underscored that Hamas maintains its position regarding the full withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh announced yesterday that they had received an invitation to visit Cairo to discuss the "framework agreement" that emerged from the Paris meeting and the articles regarding its implementation.

Haniyeh stated, "Hamas's response to the proposal from the Paris meeting will be primarily based on the cessation of the brutal aggression against Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip."

PARIS AGREEMENT

Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated in an interview in Washington on January 28 that negotiations were held in Paris, the capital of France, with officials from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar regarding a ceasefire and prisoner swap in Gaza.

Later, Israel's Channel 12 television also announced that meetings were held in Paris with the participation of intelligence directors from Israel, mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, but that the "leaked articles" regarding these meetings were not accurate.

White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby also stated in an interview with the American channel MSNBC that a framework had been formed regarding the ceasefire and prisoner swap negotiated between US, Qatari, Egyptian, and Israeli officials in Paris, and that concrete progress had been made, particularly regarding the prisoner swap.