An Israeli political official denied reports that preliminary agreements had been reached between Israel and Hamas within the framework of negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal. The source said, "Reports that Israel and Hamas have agreed in principle to a ceasefire are incorrect."

According to him, "There are very big gaps and there is no progress in the talks. They are very complicated and there is a continuing hardening of positions on the part of Hamas. No one should be deceived - it will take a long time."

Egyptian sources told the American Wall Street Journal this morning that Hamas is open to discussing a prisoner agreement in exchange for a large truce of up to a month.

Today, Wednesday, Israeli sources denied news suggesting that there would be substantial progress in prisoner exchange negotiations with Hamas and a temporary ceasefire, according to what Reuters and American newspapers reported, which reported in their reports that Israel and Hamas had agreed in principle to an exchange deal.

Israel and the Hamas movement agreed, in principle, on the possibility of conducting an exchange deal in stages, during which the Israelis kidnapped by Hamas would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, during a truce that would last a month, according to Reuters and American newspapers.

In response to a question about the negotiations, a senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, told Reuters that the movement is open to discussing ideas, but no agreement has been reached yet.

Abu Zuhri said, "We are open to all initiatives and proposals, but any agreement must be based on ending the aggression and complete withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip."

Reuters quoted three sources as saying, "The framework plan was delayed due to differences between the two sides regarding how to reach a permanent end to the war in Gaza."

The sources said, "There is difficulty in going beyond the broad outlines of the framework presented after a disagreement over the continuation of the war at the end of the deal."

But the negotiations, according to the sources, have already achieved progress and reduced differences over the duration of what was described as the “initial ceasefire,” which Hamas initially demanded to continue for several months.

Hamas refuses to move forward with negotiations until there is agreement on the future terms of the permanent ceasefire it demands as part of the deal.

Reuters quoted two Egyptian security officials as saying: “There are attempts to persuade Hamas to agree to a ceasefire for a month, followed by a permanent ceasefire, but the movement is demanding guarantees to implement the second phase of the deal.”

A senior Hamas official told Reuters, "One of the proposals put forward by Israel is to end the war by removing six senior Hamas officials from the Gaza Strip, which means exiling them from there. This proposal has been categorically rejected."

The Hamas official added, "The list presented by Israel included the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Al-Sinwar, and the commander of the military wing, Muhammad Al-Deif."

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

In turn, the American newspaper "Wall Street Journal" reported, citing Egyptian sources, that Hamas informed the mediators that it was open to discussing an agreement to release all kidnapped civilian women and children in exchange for a ceasefire for a significant period.

The Washington Post reported that a proposal is being negotiated that includes the release of all Israeli prisoners in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including those involved in serious attacks and senior leaders of Palestinian factions.

The newspaper reported that the deal to release the abductees being formed will consist of 3 to 4 stages. First, Hamas will release about 10 women and children who were supposed to be released in the previous arrangement. In the second phase, about 40 sick, wounded, elderly and kidnapped people will be released.

In the remaining stage, Hamas will release the remaining prisoners, including soldiers and its corpses, and for every Israeli there will be 3 Palestinian prisoners.