A delegation of the Palestinian movement “Hamas” has arrived in Cairo, DPA reported, citing sources from the airport in the Egyptian capital. This comes amid renewed ceasefire and hostage exchange talks with Israel.
The three-member Hamas delegation flew from the Qatari capital Doha to discuss the latest proposal for a truce and exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, the source said.
The website of the newspaper “Yediot Ahronot” reported today that the proposal envisages the release of 33 hostages in exchange for the release of several hundred Palestinians from Israeli prisons. They will include women, including military prisoners, old people, wounded, etc. “mentally disabled”.
Citing a senior Israeli government official, Yediot Ahronot reports that the length of the truce will depend on the number of hostages released.
According to the Israeli media, Hamas is demanding the release of 50 prisoners for every freed soldier held hostage in the Gaza Strip, and 30 prisoners for every civilian hostage, BTA reported.
According to the proposal, Israel would withdraw its forces from the central road that divides the Gaza Strip into north and south. Residents of the northern part will be allowed to return to their homes. Much of Gaza’s population of more than two million fled to the enclave’s south during the war.
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to choose between reaching an agreement on the prisoners and preserving his government, the agency noted.
The far-right finance minister in his cabinet, Betzalel Smotrich, has threatened to end the government if the ceasefire agreement in its currently debated form is implemented and the planned military operation in Rafah is halted. Netanyahu’s political survival depends on his far-right coalition partners.
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