In the latest developments in the anticipated prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, being negotiated in Doha under the tripartite auspices of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported on Sunday that Tel Aviv agreed during the weekend negotiations in Qatar to release 700 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 40 Israeli detainees.
A senior Israeli source was quoted saying, “Israel agreed to release about 700 Palestinian security prisoners, including approximately 100 lifers, in exchange for 40 detainees.”
The authority also mentioned that Israel is considering a proposal to release seven Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment for every female soldier Hamas releases.
According to the report, Israel will not have the right to object to the names Hamas demands, while more security prisoners will be released for each soldier if Israel is granted the right to object to the names.
This development followed an earlier report by an informed Arab source stating that there was an agreement on the concept of releasing 40 Israelis and on a six-week ceasefire period. The contentious details are the number and identities of the Palestinians to be released and the issue of allowing displaced people to return to northern Gaza.
The source noted that Washington, through Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is exerting clear pressure on Tel Aviv to progress in the negotiations and reach a deal within days.
There is nearly an agreement on a gradual return to areas in northern Gaza following American pressure.
Despite the departure of Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar from Qatar on Saturday night, a negotiating delegation of senior officers remained in Doha to continue the talks.
The United States presented a “convergence proposal” on Saturday in Doha regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in exchange for each captive released by Hamas during a potential new ceasefire in Gaza.
This proposal included releasing 40 Israeli detainees out of 130 held by Hamas, alongside a six-week ceasefire.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters that the movement had previously made a proposal earlier this month, which Israel described as unrealistic. It demanded the release of between 700 and 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli captives, including women, minors, the elderly, and the sick. He blamed Israel for the lack of agreement, accusing it of refusing to commit to ending the military offensive, withdrawing its forces from Gaza, and allowing displaced people to return to their homes in the north.
Hamas insists on the return of displaced people to the north and a permanent ceasefire, while Israel rejects these demands.
The idea of easing the conditions for residents’ return to northern Gaza was also discussed.
