Three sources told Reuters on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, that Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had largely agreed in principle to the possibility of exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners during a month-long truce, and the sources stated that the framework plan was being delayed. It was proposed due to differences between the two sides regarding how to reach a permanent end to the war in Gaza.

Intensive mediation efforts, led by Qatar, Washington and Egypt in the past few weeks, have focused on a gradual approach to releasing different categories of Israeli detainees, from civilians to soldiers, in exchange for a cessation of hostilities, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of more aid into Gaza.

This comes a few days after a Hebrew channel published, on Monday evening, that Israel is preparing a new deal that includes the release of its detainees in Gaza and a temporary cessation of fighting without committing to ending the war in the Palestinian Strip.

The private Channel 13 reported that Tel Aviv “has finished formulating the principles of a deal consisting of 3 to 4 stages, which includes changing the deployment of Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip and withdrawing from some areas without ending the war.”

According to the channel, the deal being prepared also includes “Israel’s agreement to release a large number of Palestinian prisoners and a long-term ceasefire,” without further clarification.

According to the same source, the crystallized deal includes Hamas releasing its remaining women and elderly men, although it is not clear whether they will be released in one lump sum.

The channel said, "In the second phase, the youngest detainees and youth will be released, while the third phase includes the release of soldiers and bodies held by Hamas."

The channel quoted Israeli sources - which it did not name - that Tel Aviv "received during the past few days messages from mediators indicating that Hamas seemed more flexible regarding its demand that the end of the war be part of a possible deal."

Netanyahu talks about a prisoner exchange deal

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that there is an "Israeli initiative" to exchange detainees in the Gaza Strip for Palestinian prisoners, without revealing its details.

This came during Netanyahu's meeting with representatives of the families of Israeli detainees in Gaza, denying that there was an initiative presented by the Hamas movement in this regard, according to a statement issued by Netanyahu's office.

The statement, a copy of which was obtained by Anatolia, stated that Netanyahu "told the families of the kidnapped Israelis held by Hamas during his meeting with them: There is no real proposal by Hamas. This is not true."

He added: "I say this as clearly as I can, because there are many untrue things that are tormenting you. On the contrary, there is an initiative on our part and I will not divulge its details."

In recent days, no Israeli official has ever announced the existence of an “Israeli prisoner exchange initiative,” but the media reported disagreements within the government regarding ways to return detainees from Gaza, and Netanyahu’s rejection of proposals presented by various parties, due to his adherence to not a ceasefire, which is the condition. The main leader of the Hamas movement.

A sit-in by the families of prisoners

On Sunday, the families of the prisoners set up tents near the Prime Minister’s house in West Jerusalem to demand that the government reach a deal to return the prisoners from the Gaza Strip.

It is worth noting that, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israeli military points and settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip, during which about 1,200 Israelis were killed, about 5,431 were injured, and the movement captured at least 239.

Hamas exchanged 105 civilians detained by it, including 81 Israelis, 23 Thai citizens, and one Filipino, during a temporary humanitarian truce that lasted 7 days and ended in early December 2023, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons (71 female prisoners and 169 children). ).

Israel estimates that there are about “136 hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip,” according to identical media reports and statements by Israeli officials.