Israeli media citing Mossad chief: Hamas demands one month ceasefire
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Israeli media reports that the Mossad director informed the Council of Ministers that Hamas is demanding a ceasefire for 20-30 days in exchange for the release of 50 prisoners.
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Protesters in 'Tel Aviv' lift placards during a rally for supporters and relatives of Israeli captives held in Gaza. (AFP)
Israeli media reported that Mossad Director David Barnea informed the Israeli cabinet that Hamas is demanding a 20-30 day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 50 captives, including children, women, and the elderly, who are being held captive.
In turn, Axios quoted Israeli officials saying that Qatari mediators conveyed to "Israel" that Hamas has "tentatively agreed" to resume discussions on a new agreement for the release of over 40 captives in Gaza. This would be in exchange for a one-month ceasefire, according to three Israeli officials.
The website reported that Israeli officials are treating the message “with extreme caution,” hoping for further clarification over the weekend to determine the "seriousness" of Hamas's intentions.
On that note, one Israeli official said the Qatari message is still in its early stages "but it is positive because, for the first time since the previous deal ended, Hamas signals that it is ready to go back to the table. We move from freezing to very cold."
It is worth noting that the Israeli website "Walah" reported that "Israel" conveyed its readiness to establish a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for a week. This proposal is contingent on the willingness to release Palestinian prisoners, with the condition that more than 40 Israeli captives held by the Palestinian resistance in the Strip are also released.
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The website highlighted that this proposal is the first from "Israel" since the termination of the previous agreement a few weeks ago, following the breakdown of the week-long truce. Israeli officials have suggested that the proposal signifies "Israel's commitment to recommence negotiations."
The families of Israeli captives, held by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, have heightened their calls for an immediate exchange deal. These demands intensified after the al-Shujaiya incident, along with the killing of captives by the IOF, and the resistance confirming the deaths of several Israeli captives due to the ongoing bombardment of the Strip.
It's important to note that the leader of the Hamas movement, Osama Hamdan, emphasized yesterday that the leaders of the occupation "will not see their prisoners alive unless there is a comprehensive cessation of aggression against Gaza, and negotiations are conducted in accordance with the interests of our people."
