An Israeli report said, on Monday, that the attack by a number of ministers on the terms of the new deal with Hamas, which according to sources familiar with it includes an exchange of prisoners and efforts to cease fire in the Gaza Strip, was “planned in advance.”

The Hebrew daily Maariv quoted unnamed sources as saying, “The attack against the deal was planned before the Israeli Cabinet meeting held on Sunday.”

It added: “According to the sources, a number of Likud ministers (the ruling party in Israel) were asked to speak publicly in the media against the parameters of the deal, even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads this party.”

It continued: “The sources explained that this does not mean that the ministers were asked to say things they disagreed with, but mainly that they were asked to highlight and publicize their position, while publishing the attack on the deal at the cabinet meeting well.”

It pointed out that the Likud ministers who opposed the deal were the Ministers of Economy Nir Barkat, Diaspora Affairs Minister Emhai Shikli, Foreign Affairs Minister Yisrael Katz, Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, Justice Yariv Levin, Education Yoav Kisch, and Transportation Miri Regev.

The newspaper quoted Justice Minister Levin as saying during the cabinet meeting that “the number of prisoners scheduled to be released for each hostage is ‘unacceptable’ without details.

He added, “It is also impossible to release them to the West Bank.” We have to find a solution for this,” according to the same source.

As for the Minister of Education, he said at the meeting: “This cannot be the deal.” What was published in the media does not look good at all. “It is worrying.”

In turn, the Minister of Economy said: “The idea of a ceasefire day for every hostage is fictitious. In the previous round, they received a ceasefire day for every ten hostages.”

The newspaper did not explain the reasons for asking the ministers to attack the deal.

Israeli reports indicated that the United States is “pressing for the parties to accept this deal.”

In this context, Israel says that it is awaiting Hamas’ response to the specifics of the deal, which have not yet been officially revealed.

The deal includes the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip and a ceasefire in the Strip, according to unofficial reports and statements.

Qatar and Egypt are mediating between Israel and Hamas in order to complete this deal.

On January 28, a meeting was held in the French capital, Paris, with the participation of Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, to discuss a prisoner exchange deal and stop the war in Gaza, which will take place in 3 stages, according to Palestinian and American sources.

Tel Aviv estimates that there are about 136 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, while it holds no less than 8,800 Palestinians in its prisons, according to official sources from both parties, but there is no confirmation of the final number by both parties.