Exclusive: Gaza negotiations witness progress, Friday’s talks decisive
2 Min Read
A Palestinian official tells Al Mayadeen that Friday's talks in Doha are decisive, showing some optimism that a deal may be reached.
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A released Palestinian prisoner is carried during a welcome ceremony in Ramallah for prisoners freed from Israeli jails in exchange for Israeli captives released by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (AFP)
A Palestinian leader told Al Mayadeen on Thursday that Gaza ceasefire negotiations “are witnessing real development, as there are signs that a ceasefire agreement may be reached,” clarifying that the round that will be held in Doha on Friday, “is important and crucial in the negotiations.”
The Palestinian leader noted there were some main issues in need of further discussion, such as the Israeli captives, the Philadelphi Axis, the return of displaced Palestinians, and the resolution of the issue of Palestinian captives.
In the same context, “Israel’s” Walla news website reported Israeli officials as saying that the sending of a team to Doha is a last-minute attempt at advancing in the ceasefire talks.
A week ago, a Palestinian source told Al Mayadeen that the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, mediated through intermediaries, "are progressing well but face obstacles that are not easy to overcome."
The leader confirmed that "despite the noise in the Israeli media, the negotiations are moving forward diligently through the mediators, and claims of their collapse are not true."
He explained that "the first obstacle is Israel's stance on withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor in the first phase."
He added that the second obstacle is "the occupation's refusal to release a number of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment," while the third obstacle is "Israel's insistence on keeping its forces inside the Gaza Strip in the first phase."
The Palestinian leader clarified that "Israel insists on remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor in the first phase, but Hamas refuses to accept this," noting that "Hamas insists on the release of about 200 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment in the first phase."
He also pointed out that "Israel insists on Hamas agreeing to a specific list of 34 prisoners in Gaza, who would be released in the first phase."
