Israeli media reports possible captive deal in 48-72 hours

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
15 Nov 2023 01:22

An Israeli political source reported that progress has been achieved in a possible captive deal, and a significant breakthrough may occur in the coming days.

People gather outside UN headquarters in al-Quds to call for the return of the captives kidnapped during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in "Israel", Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. (AP)

A senior Israeli political source said Tuesday that progress has been made on a captive deal and a breakthrough could come in the next 48-72 hours.

The Israeli War Cabinet met on Tuesday night to discuss the deal, the source said.

Israeli officials have said as many as 239 Israelis are being held captive in Gaza.

This comes after demonstrations took over "Tel Aviv", on Tuesday, as families of the Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip took to the streets, escalating pressure on the government of Israeli occupation government's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding answers amid conflicting news regarding a possible exchange deal with the Palestinian Resistance, mediated by Egypt and Qatar and with a US blessing.

The settlers protesting Netanyahu's government, carrying pictures of their children who are being held captive in the Strip, demanded "Netanyahu and the government give us answers and measures," stressing that they "no longer have the strength."

Another Israeli settler underscored, "We do not have time to wait any longer. Every day that passes puts the lives of the prisoners in danger."

Moreover, The Washington Post earlier quoted a top Israeli official who alleged that "Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal regarding the prisoners, which may be announced within days if the final details are resolved."

That said, on November 13, the families of the Israeli settlers taken captive by the Palestinian Resistance during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood underlined during a meeting with the Israeli Knesset committee that the settlers "cannot be left to die once again."

At the beginning of the discussion in the Knesset, the representatives of the captives' families said there was "no moral explanation for the existence of the state."

"We were abandoned once on that cursed Saturday, and we will not allow them not to be returned," the Israeli Maariv website reported.

There has been no prisoner swap deal thus far as the Israeli occupation forces bomb all walks of life in Gaza, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings. The indiscriminate bombing has already killed several Israeli captives in Gaza.