The Hebrew Broadcasting Authority reported, Thursday, October 26, 2023, that Tel Aviv informed the mediators that it is ready to consider “a large-scale deal with the Gaza Strip, leading to the release of a large number of Israelis” held by Hamas.

The official authority said, “Israel informed the mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, that it is ready to consider a large-scale exchange deal with the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.”

It pointed out that "the deal includes the release of a large number of prisoners held by Hamas in Gaza, while Hamas demanded the transfer of fuel to Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a ceasefire."

For its part, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, quoting senior political officials, confirmed that “there are talks to reach an agreement to release the hostages with the participation of Qatar.”

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing informed Israeli and foreign sources, also confirmed that there are contacts to release a large number of detainees and prisoners held by the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

The newspaper quoted one of the sources as saying that the parties leading the negotiation process hope to complete this “within two days, or perhaps less.”

The newspaper stated that the number and identities of the detainees that Hamas will release are not yet known, while "Israel looks forward to the liberation of all kidnapped civilians."

A source familiar with the talks confirmed to the newspaper that this is the plan currently on the table, but sources in Tel Aviv said that the talks may also lead to a less successful agreement, whereby not all civilians will be released, while Tel Aviv will be required to provide something in return.

According to the newspaper, the occupying state may be asked to take various steps in exchange for their release, such as releasing Palestinian female prisoners in occupation prisons, elderly and sick prisoners, or allowing the expansion of humanitarian aid brought into the Gaza Strip, including fuel.

Although Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant, are vowing to carry out a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, a number of media reports indicated that a deal between the Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel is approaching, including a ceasefire.

For the 20th day, the Israeli army continues to target Gaza with intense air strikes that destroyed entire neighborhoods, killing 7,028 Palestinians, including 2,913 children, 1,709 women, and 397 elderly people, and wounding 18,484 people, in addition to more than 1,950 missing people under the rubble.

During the same period, the Hamas movement killed more than 1,400 Israelis and wounded 5,132, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health. It also captured more than 200 Israelis, including high-ranking military personnel, and wants to exchange them for more than 6,000 Palestinian prisoners, including children and women, in Israeli prisons. .

Source: Arabic Post