The Israeli media raised the idea of Tel Aviv holding negotiations with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) regarding the prisoners it holds, and the opportunities for calm, which has been increasingly talked about in recent days.

Some guests on Israeli television stations, including members of the Knesset (Parliament) and reserve generals, suggested that any process of calm or negotiations must be closely linked to the release of prisoners held by Hamas.

Knesset member Aryeh Adraee said that he did not want to deceive anyone that the defeat of Hamas would be quick, and the leader of the Shas movement added, “It will be a difficult and long task.”

In a related context, Amos Malka, former head of the military intelligence unit, stressed that the goals of the war on Gaza need a longer time, “and the way the army operates requires a longer time.”

Malka called on the political level to provide this sufficient time to the army and intelligence, claiming that they are "excellent in doing the rest."

He believes that there will be certain calms, but he stressed the need for them to be linked to what he called the "kidnapped" in Gaza.

For his part, the former commander of the Negotiations Unit in the Israeli Police, Ofer Shahar, touched on the ongoing negotiations regarding the truce and the prisoners, and said, "We have not known anything like it. Over the previous years, Israel has conducted various negotiations."

He pointed out that negotiations are a long process; It has successes and failures, as well as moments of despair, wondering what the authorities will say to the family of a prisoner or detainee at some point.

As for Uzi Dayan, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the occupation army, he demanded full control of the Gaza Strip similar to Area B in the occupied West Bank. He also demanded the isolation of the Philadelphia “Salah al-Din” axis, which extends 14 kilometers along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

"Then there will be time to put the remaining Hamas men on trial," Dayan claimed, adding, "We will get many Gazans who are considered the 'nuclear' family of Hamas men. These must be identified and arrested, and then they can be used as bargaining chips."

The Oslo Accords signed between the Palestinian Authority and the occupation government stipulates that the West Bank is divided into 3 areas “A”, “B” and “C”, each of which is subject to specific security and political sovereignty. Area “B” constitutes about 21% of the area of the West Bank and is subject administratively. Only for the Palestinian Authority and for the security of the Israeli occupation.

Source: Al Jazeera