Israeli television expected that a preliminary agreement for a prisoner exchange deal would be signed on Thursday or Friday of this week.

Channel 12 Israel explains, "It is not certain that it will be a signed agreement, but it is possible that an 'agreement in initials' or a document of principles that both parties will commit to will be reached, and it could also be an achievement with the entry of Donald Trump into the White House.

There is optimism, the Hebrew channel adds, quoting sources, "but one still has to be careful when reaching decisive conclusions."

Meanwhile, members of the Israeli delegation, which also includes the head of the Shin Bet and the head of the Mossad, are still in Qatar, and this indicates the possibility of reaching the broad outlines, but there are still gaps, albeit small, but they still exist. The teams are working, sometimes at night, and with intense effort, but there are no leaks about what is happening behind closed doors about whether an agreement can be reached.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan commented on the developments in the negotiations regarding the hostage deal and the ceasefire in Gaza. According to Sullivan, "We are very close to reaching an agreement, but there are still things that need to be closed."

The advisor stressed that there is an insistence on reaching an agreement before 20 Next January, "this is possible but it is impossible to give predictions."

Outline of the exchange deal

In the first stage, 34 Israeli prisoners will be released in exchange for a month-and-a-half ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and the release of about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 48 prisoners released in the Shalit deal who were rearrested; about 90 women; 150 to 200 Palestinian prisoners with long sentences and life sentences; about 350 prisoners under the age of 19; and about 560 sick and elderly prisoners.

Other issues discussed in the first stage include a list of names of the living abductees that Israel will receive; the redeployment of the Israeli army outside populated areas in Gaza; the return of displaced Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip, after they are inspected by a third party; and the opening of the Rafah crossing for the entry of humanitarian aid and the exit of patients for treatment.

The second phase of the deal will begin a week after the implementation of the first phase, during which the remaining kidnapped will be released, in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners and a second ceasefire lasting for a month and a half.

The negotiations in this phase will include discussing arrangements for ending the war and the Israeli withdrawal from the Strip. According to the sources, the third phase will be discussed between the two parties if an agreement is reached regarding the second phase, and it will include the restoration and management of the Strip.