Israeli Channel 13 said - today, Sunday - that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold “limited consultations” in the evening with security officials regarding the proposal to exchange prisoners with the Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza, led by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

The Israeli channel also quoted President Isaac Herzog as saying that the absolute majority of Israelis support a prisoner exchange deal, and that Israel is committed to returning them.

This coincides with demonstrations taking place in several Israeli cities - since this morning - to demand an exchange deal and the dismissal of Netanyahu’s government.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that more than two thousand demonstrators were roaming Tel Aviv, while an Al Jazeera correspondent reported that demonstrators closed the main Ayalon Street in the city center to demand early elections and an exchange deal.

Golden opportunity

This simultaneous movement on the Israeli street and government departments comes in light of indications received from the Qatari capital, where exchange negotiations are taking place regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement.

Israeli Channel 12 quoted sources in the Mossad intelligence service - participating in the negotiations - that there is great hope for reaching a deal that will return the detainees.

Israeli Channel 13 also reported that the security establishment estimates that the opportunity is now golden to reach an agreement, and that the security authorities recommend that the political leadership seize it, adding that the army informed the political level that the fight against Hamas will continue for years and that Israel may lose detainees during this time.

The newspaper "Israel Hayom" quoted a senior official as saying that if Netanyahu gives the green light to the plan being negotiated, he will find the necessary majority to pass it in the government.

Limited consultations

Israeli Channel 13 said, "Limited consultations will be held this evening (Sunday) at 19:30 (+3 GMT) led by the Prime Minister, with the heads of the security establishment regarding the swap deal negotiations."

The channel added, "Netanyahu will determine during tonight's consultations the composition of the delegation that will leave for Doha."

On Saturday, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted unnamed informed sources as saying that the negotiating delegation “will leave on Monday to continue negotiations on the deal.”

According to official Israeli reports, indirect negotiations have resumed with Hamas to reach an agreement to exchange Israeli prisoners for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire in Gaza.

For months, mediation efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas that would guarantee an exchange of prisoners from both sides and a ceasefire, leading to ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian Strip.

However, mediation efforts were hampered due to the Israeli Prime Minister's refusal to respond to Hamas's demands to stop the war.