This evening (Saturday), a high-ranking Israeli official revealed to Channel 13 that negotiations on a major prisoner exchange deal have witnessed significant progress, stressing at the same time that it does not include soldiers.

According to the Israeli Channel 13, the Israeli source confirmed that “no final agreement has been reached yet,” adding that the deal includes the release of dozens of hostages in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for Israel releasing female prisoners and minors from Israeli prisons and allowing fuel to enter the Strip.

The publication on Channel 13 comes at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed during a press conference held this evening (Saturday) at the headquarters of the Israeli Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, that the issue of returning the hostages constitutes the first priority of the Israeli government, while the head of the Israeli Mossad, David Barnea, is working together. With the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Prisoner Affairs, coordinating efforts to do so.

As for Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, it was reported by prominent political sources that the deal would include, in addition to the release of children and women, several days of ceasefire, in addition to the introduction of fuel, provided that it reaches the places that were previously agreed upon.

The newspaper added, quoting the same source, that no agreement had been reached on the number of prisoners who would be released, “but we aspire to release the largest possible number.” The source confirmed that finalizing the deal requires several more days until it is presented to the Israeli government for approval.

A number of countries, including Qatar and Egypt, play the role of mediator between Israel and Hamas in order to reach a prisoner exchange deal between the two parties.

The Hamas movement has expressed its willingness to conclude an exchange deal that includes “all Israeli prisoners” in Gaza, in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, who number more than 7,500. But at the same time, it stressed that it will not take place under fire.