Israel and Hamas are discussing the terms of a hostage swap deal likely to be implemented next month, Israeli media claimed on Friday.
Daily Haaretz claimed, citing official sources:
The “ideal time” to implement an agreement would be during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins March 10.
Recent media reports suggested that “the delay in reaching an agreement on the hostages may be due to factors not directly related to progress in the talks.”
Moreover, The Washington Post report was cited by the daily, stating that “the Biden administration wants a much broader and longer-term deal that includes the establishment of a Palestinian state. The plan is now being formulated. Those behind the plan hope that a hostage (swap) deal can be reached even before the start of Ramadan.”
The Israeli daily Haaretz said, citing unknown sources that “Israel also prefers to take its time to reach an agreement so it can complete military operations in Khan Younis and possibly expand them to Rafah in the expectation that any hostage deal will include a long-term cease-fire. The Israeli newspaper claimed:
One way or the other, Israeli sources said the two sides were still far apart on the key issues in the talks, first and foremost over the duration of any cease-fire. At the same time, Israel is exerting pressure on Hamas to minimise the number of Palestinian security prisoners to be freed in any hostage deal. Not every public declaration by Israel or by Hamas reflects the discussions that are taking place behind closed doors.
The daily added:
The international community, meanwhile, is having difficulty predicting whether Netanyahu will renege at the last minute on understandings reached due to security, domestic political or personal considerations.
Earlier, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US for the week of 24 November to 1 December, during which hostilities ceased, prisoners were exchanged and very limited humanitarian aid was delivered to Gaza.
Israel believes 134 Israelis are still being held in Gaza after the Israeli army managed to free two hostages in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on Monday.
Israel has been striking the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on 7 October. The Israeli attack has killed at least 28,663 people, caused widespread destruction and shortages of essential goods. Israel estimates that some 1,200 Israelis have died as a result of the Hamas attack.
According to the UN, the Israeli war in Gaza has displaced 85 per cent of the population amid severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60 per cent of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
