A former minister in the Israeli war government expressed his optimism about reaching an agreement on the prisoner exchange deal, while Israeli sources familiar with the details of the response of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to the exchange deal proposal said that they were dissatisfied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confirmation of the existence of controversial issues and gaps. .

Former Minister of the Israeli War Council Gadi Eisenkot said, “We are at a point that is considered the closest to an exchange deal in 9 months,” but he added, “I find it difficult, however, to see Netanyahu rise to the strategic level of leadership and agree to the deal,” adding that “Netanyahu is constrained.” "For his political and personal interests, he must be replaced quickly."

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted informed Israeli sources as saying that Netanyahu’s renewed emphasis on the controversial issues regarding the deal makes it difficult to advance the negotiations. The sources explained that Hamas's response is considered relatively good and may allow progress in the talks in Cairo or Doha.

A political source told Israeli Channel 12 that Netanyahu confirms that the war will not end until all its goals are achieved.

For its part, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted an informed source as saying, “The basic issues are behind us and the negotiations will revolve around details and not broad principles,” stressing that an exchange deal could be reached within two to three weeks.

While the Axios website quoted sources in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office that Netanyahu agreed to send a delegation to negotiate the exchange deal after Hamas' response, Israeli Channel 13 said that Netanyahu is making media statements under the name of a political source about his acceptance of sending a delegation to resume negotiations.

The Wall Street Journal quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Hamas’ response and the changes that occurred in the deal are sufficient to move forward with the talks.

While the Israeli government said that there was a review with Egypt and Qatar of Hamas' response, a senior security official told the Israeli Broadcasting Authority that Hamas was determined that Israel would not return to fighting after the first phase, which was unacceptable.

Hamas denies

Earlier, Hamas Political Bureau member Dr. Basem Naim denied Israeli statements regarding excluding the ceasefire condition in the first phase of the expected deal.

He said in exclusive statements to Al Jazeera Net that these statements are incorrect, and stressed that military operations by both parties will be halted in the first phase, during which the terms of a permanent ceasefire will be negotiated.

The Israeli Channel 12 quoted an Israeli official as saying that the Hamas movement’s response does not include a ceasefire condition in the first phase of the deal, while anti-government demonstrators closed roads in Tel Aviv.

Channel 12, quoting an Israeli official, said that Hamas' response allows "the return of detainees, including the elderly, children, the sick, the wounded, and female soldiers."

The Israeli official added - according to Channel 12 - that if Hamas violates the agreement, it can withdraw from it and return to fighting after the first stage.

Possible connection

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper also quoted an Israeli security source as saying that Netanyahu will sacrifice the detainees in order to buy some time until after his speech in Congress.

The newspaper said that US President Joe Biden is expected to make a call - today, Thursday - with Netanyahu to pressure him to accept the deal.

For his part, the Israeli Minister of the Diaspora said that government ministers have not yet been informed of Hamas’ response, stressing that the return of detainees is one of the most important goals of the war, and has not deviated from our agenda and priorities.

He stressed that if the deal includes the release of one person in exchange for three, then this is possible, but in return they will not accept the withdrawal of forces and the cessation of the war, he said.

The Israeli Foreign Intelligence Service (Mossad) said that the mediators (Egypt and Qatar) presented to Israel the Hamas movement’s response to the ceasefire proposal in Gaza, and Tel Aviv will study it.

This came according to a Mossad statement, published by Netanyahu’s office, via the X platform, yesterday evening, Wednesday. The statement said that the office will study Hamas' response and respond to the mediators.

Threats to families of prisoners

Commenting on Netanyahu's office's announcement that it had received Hamas' response, the Association of Families of Israeli Prisoners Detained in Gaza said that it would not allow the government to obstruct reaching a prisoner exchange deal again.

The Prisoners' Families Association threatened Netanyahu with millions taking to the streets if he did not accept a deal with Hamas. The authority added that the Israelis have repeatedly shown in every opinion poll that they support reaching a comprehensive deal for the return of all detainees.

Protest organizers called for a massive march and demonstration this evening in front of Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, to demand the overthrow of the government, setting a date for early elections, and concluding an exchange deal.

In addition, demonstrators closed the Ayalon Highway north of Tel Aviv to demand an immediate deal to release the prisoners. The demonstrators blew smoke and carried banners bearing phrases such as: “Enough with the government of destruction.” They also chanted slogans including: “The kidnappers have been in Gaza for many days, and blood stains the hands of the bloody government.”

Deal proposal

Biden had presented a plan to reach a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas and end the war in the Gaza Strip, in a speech he delivered last May 31, during which he presented an Israeli proposal in this regard consisting of 3 stages.

Al Jazeera obtained a copy of the document on the basic principles of the exchange deal and the return of complete calm in the Gaza Strip, which is the basis of negotiations between Hamas and Israel.

The first phase - according to this proposal - will last 6 weeks, and includes a comprehensive and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza, and the release of a number of detainees in Gaza - including the wounded, the elderly, and women - in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

At this stage, the remaining bodies of Israeli prisoners in Gaza will also be handed over, and the Palestinians will return to all areas of Gaza, including the north, and aid will enter the besieged Strip at a rate of 600 trucks per day.

According to Biden's proposal, during these six weeks, Israel and Hamas will negotiate a permanent ceasefire, but the truce will continue if the talks remain ongoing.

The second phase will include the exchange of all living prisoners, including Israeli soldiers, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, while the third phase will include the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the opening of border crossings.

Since the end of the previous truce at the beginning of last December, the indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel have faced many obstacles as a result of the occupation’s insistence on continuing its aggression under the pretext of “achieving the goals of the war, recovering detainees, and achieving progress in the talks through military pressure.”