Hamas leader re-engaging in talks on Prisoner exchange: Axios
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Hamas' leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya al-Sinwar re-engaged with Hamas delegates in Doha for the first time since IOF troops stormed Al-Shifa hospital.
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Yehiyeh Al-Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, delivers a speech during a rally marking Al-Quds Day, an annual celebration to support Palestinians in the holy city, at a soccer field in Gaza City, Friday, April 14, 2023 (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Negotiations regarding the release of dozens of captives held in Gaza have resumed and are making small progress, three sources with direct knowledge of the situation told Axios.
Hamas' leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Al-Sinwar reportedly re-engaged with Hamas delegates in Doha for the first time since IOF troops stormed Al-Shifa hospital.
On Saturday, hundreds of people were forcefully evacuated from the hospital by the Israeli occupation forces, and at least 15 bodies were found along the evacuation route. WHO highlighted the critical condition of patients, including 29 with serious spinal injuries, others with infected wounds, and 32 premature babies in extremely critical condition.
Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, revealed, on Sunday, that a deal to free Israeli captives is facing "minor" practical issues. Qatar has played a role in mediating talks to free some of the Israeli captives, approximately 240 in total. The efforts have resulted in the release of four captives so far.
Two sources told Axios that Al-Sinwar gave answers to the Qatari mediators that suggested a possible deal, but nothing was certain so far.
A 2-part deal
The sources also revealed that if a deal were reached, it would be executed in two stages.
In the first phase, Hamas will release around 50 women and children in exchange for a five-day ceasefire.
During the ceasefire, Hamas will seek out more women and children it believes are being kept by other Resistance groups.
According to the sources, Al-Sinwar is also requesting that the Israelis suspend their aerial monitoring of Gaza for six hours daily so Hamas can locate captives without being spied on.
In addition, the sources say Al-Sinwar is demanding all Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli jails be released.
According to the sources, "Israel" requested to know the actual number of women and children being held in Gaza as part of the arrangement. According to one source, "Israel" would not accept a broad agreement that Hamas will free more captives, but instead wants to know how many will be released in the second phase.
As part of the agreement, Hamas is demanding 400 trucks enter Gaza to provide fuel in addition to other humanitarian aid.
"Israel" claims it cannot process 400 trucks a day for "security reasons".
Biden Deputy NatSec Adviser says captives deal 'closer than ever': CNN
Jonathan Finer, Biden's Deputy National Security Adviser, spoke with CNN's Jake Tapper on the administration's progress in striking an agreement for the release of Israeli captives.
During the interview, Finer called Qatar's efforts at mediating a release agreement "extremely close," adding that the US has been following the situation "minute by minute, hour by hour, up to the level of the President."
The Palestinian Resistance still insists on the release of Palestinian Women and children from Israeli prisons to make a similar move.
The United States is seemingly working to facilitate a deal between "Israel" and Hamas, following reports of a tentative agreement, which the White House has denied. The negotiations aim to achieve a temporary cessation of hostilities, with the release of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons in exchange. However, "Israel" has maintained its stance of not agreeing to a ceasefire until all Israeli captives are released.
Finer called the situation an overriding priority since many Americans were involved, explaining that since the negotiations began, "we think that we are closer than we have ever been perhaps."
