Reuters reported - citing an unnamed official - that an Egyptian delegation met with Israeli officials today to discuss ways to resume prisoner release negotiations.

According to the official, Benjamin Netanyahu's government has no new proposals that can be presented to advance the negotiations. But it is ready to consider a limited truce in which 33 prisoners would be released instead of 40.

The official added, "What is happening is an attempt by Egypt to resume the talks with an Egyptian proposal that includes the release of 33 hostages, including women, the elderly, and the sick."

The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported a few days ago that Egypt presented an initiative to Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, who visited Cairo last Wednesday, stipulating that in exchange for freezing the storming of Rafah, negotiations would be resumed and a ceasefire would be established for a year. There was no Egyptian confirmation of the visit of Israeli officials to Cairo.

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement that it is open to any ideas or proposals that take into account the just needs and rights of the Palestinian people.

Constant communication

In the same context, Egyptian media reported that contacts between Egypt and Israel “to reach a formula for a truce agreement in the Gaza Strip” are still continuing.

Cairo News Channel quoted an unnamed senior security source as saying that contacts are continuing “with the Israeli side to reach a formula for a truce agreement in the Gaza Strip,” explaining that “contacts between Egypt and Israel are limited to the truce and with the participation of security delegations only.”

The Israeli Kan channel also revealed that Hamas "informed Egypt that it will not accept any proposal that does not include a ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza."

The channel indicated that the Netanyahu government is continuing talks with Egypt to formulate a proposal acceptable to Hamas.

The deputy head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and a member of its political bureau, Khalil Al-Hayya, accused Israel of obstructing reaching a deal.

The movement expressed its regret for not mentioning the White House statement signed by 18 countries, which called for the release of prisoners held by the resistance without emphasizing the necessity of a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of the occupation army from the Gaza Strip.

Al-Hayya confirmed that Hamas wants to reach a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and to go to a serious and real exchange deal through which all the movement’s living Israeli prisoners, in addition to the bodies of the dead, will be released in exchange for the release of what is agreed upon. Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli prisons.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies