Hamas official announces: There will be an agreement on prisoner exchange with Israel
It has been noted that an agreement between Hamas and Israel regarding a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in Gaza could be reached soon.
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According to a report by Haaretz, an unnamed Hamas official speaking to the Arab press shared information that "an agreement could be reached within a few days" between the parties regarding a new prisoner exchange.
The report stated that the official mentioned Hamas is prepared to show flexibility regarding the number of Palestinian political prisoners to be released from Israeli jails.
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED
Noting that Hamas will demand the continuation of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the ability for all displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, the official indicated that an official announcement regarding a 6-week phased ceasefire could be made.
The Egyptian press announced today that delegations from Hamas, Qatar, and the US have arrived in Cairo.
A high-level political source speaking to the Israeli press noted that the Israeli delegation would not go to Egypt for talks regarding a ceasefire without receiving a list of names of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
"WE ARE TRYING TO REACH A FAIR AGREEMENT"
An unnamed high-level Egyptian official stated yesterday that there has been "progress" in the negotiations aimed at declaring a ceasefire in Gaza before the month of Ramadan, adding that Egypt is making intense efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement before Ramadan begins. The official stated, "There is visible progress in the ceasefire negotiations, and we are trying to reach a fair agreement."
Negotiations regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and a mutual prisoner exchange concluded on February 24 in Paris, the capital of France, with the participation of an Israeli delegation led by Mossad Chief David Barnea, CIA Director William (Bill) Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, and a Hamas delegation.
The Israeli war cabinet had decided to send a "low-level delegation" to Doha, the capital of Qatar, to continue the negotiations.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated that he would convene the cabinet at the beginning of the week to approve plans for an attack on the city of Rafah in the south, where approximately 1.5 million people fleeing attacks in the Gaza Strip have taken refuge, and for the evacuation of civilians there.